Dr. John Brademas, president of New York University, described Israeli democracy as “alive and lively — the kind of vigorous and robust democracy that we as Americans must help continue to survive.”
Addressing the annual Louis Marshall Memorial Dinner of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, held last night in the Plaza Hotel, Brademas said that “Americans feel particularly close to Israel because Israel is like our country in many ways. Both are vigorous democracies. Both are accustomed to controversy. Both are committed to individual freedoms.”
With regard to recent events in the Middle East, Brademas said that “it is obvious that the people of Israel and her supporters in this country are now conducting a rigorous examination of Israel’s aims and actions.”
“In the midst of searing emotions and political conflict, such reasoned introspection is no easy task,” Brademus continued. “But it is impressive to me as a Christian that in the pain and anguish following the events in Lebanon, it has been the Israeli people themselves who are raising questions and voicing criticisms of their government. No one, therefore, can doubt that the Jewish people are still champions of their historic heritage of justice and compassion.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
