American Zionist leaders today refrained from making any statements on the charge by Premier David Ben Gurion last night in the Israeli Parliament that the leadership of American Zionism “had gone bankrupt” after the establishment of the Jewish state because “not even 50 of them rose to come to Israel.”
Although privately resenting Mr. Ben Gurion’s statement, leaders of the major Zionist groups in the United States were very guarded in their comments to the press. Benjamin Browdy, president of the Zionist Organization of America, refused to make any comment. Louis Lipsky, president of the American Zionist Council, in which all Zionist parties are represented, said he would not get into a discussion on Mr. Ben Gurion’s allegation.
“I do not think that the cause of Israel is served by provoking discussion and endless debate on matters of no immediate concern to the interests and welfare of the Jewish State, “Mr. Lipsky declared.
The only lengthy statement rebuking the Israeli Premier was issued by the United Zionist-Revisionists of America. “The Prime Minister leveled the accusation of ‘bankruptcy’ against the American Zionist leadership in an attempt to cover up the already obvious bankruptcy of his own regime in Israel, “Leo Wolfson, chairman of the National Council of the Zionist-Revisionists of America, declared.
“If American Zionists are not flocking to Israel, it is because of the receptions afforded many of them when they attempted to create for themselves, and for the country, productive enterprises in Israel, “the Revisionist statement continued. “If Mr. Ben Gurion complains now about the demoralization of American Zionism, he is forgetting that it is largely of his own making since the establishment of his government, having resulted from his ignoring, side-tracking and slighting the American Zionist leadership. It will be a source of regret if his ill-timed taunts alienate thousands of devoted American Zionists without whose assistance, past and present, Mr. Ben Gurion would not be where he is today, “the statement concluded.
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