War Possibility Stressed by Ben Gurion in Message to American Jewry

American Jewry was told today by Israel Premier David Ben Gurion that it is Israel’s “fervent hope” that peace may be secured for the Jewish State. He added, however, that “if war should come, we shall acquit the name of the Jewish people with courage and honor.”

The Israel Prime Minister made this statement in an Independence Day message cabled from Jerusalem to William Rosenwald, general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal and Rabbi Herbert A. Friedman, UJA executive vice-chairman. The message will be read tomorrow, on Israel’s Independence Day, at more than 500 UJA meetings in cities from coast to coast at which the eighth anniversary of Israel’s independence will be celebrated.

Mr. Ben Gurion, who is also Israel’s Minister of Defense, declared in his message. Although we are living under the shadow of aggressive war by an enemy armed by the Communists, we are working hard at our constructive tasks building as of old with one hand, while with the other we maintain the defense of our freedom, sovereignty and democracy. Even in this hour of peril we must carry on our mission of rescue, and save those Jews in danger in other lands.”

In response, Mr. Rosenwald, Rabbi Friedman and UJA president Edward M.M. Warburg cabled Mr. Ben Gurion and Israel President Itzhak Ben Zvi assuring them of American Jewry’s fullest support. Asserting that “the Nazism of yesterday has been replaced by the Nasserism of today,” the UJA leaders declared: “We are filled with a sense of horror that there are those who would seek to destroy the monumental achievements of Israel’s people in the saving and rebuilding of lives and in the creation of free institutions.” They pledged that “the United Jewish Appeal will continue with the greatest vigor and effort” its two-fold 1956 campaign, and would call upon American Jews “to redouble” their support.

ISRAEL’S INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATED IN NEW YORK; MAYOR PARTICIPATES

Israel’s eighth anniversary of its independence was celebrated at an outdoor festival in New York’s Central Park today which drew more than 8,000 people despite rainy weather. Chief speakers at the festival, sponsored by the American Zionist Council, included Israel’s Ambassador Abba-Eban, New York’s Mayor Robert F. Wagner who characterized as “not only imprudent but unethical” the denial of defensive arms to Israel when the Arab states are being supplied with jet planes, tanks, big guns and other weapons.”

Rabbi Irving Miller, chairman of the American Zionist Council, saluted Israel as a “democratic commonwealth” and as a “vital outpost of democracy and freedom in the Middle East” as well as a bulwark of American security. Underlining that war in the Middle East cannot be isolated, Rabbi Miller asserted that in America’s own interests the U.S. Government must immediately supply Israel with defensive weapons to match those obtained by Egypt from the Soviet bloc.

Organized American labor joined in the celebration through a message sent the festival by George Meany, AFL-CIO president, who called on President Eisenhower to ask Congress for advance authority to carry out the U.S. pledges under the Tripartite Declaration of 1950. Mr. Meany further recommended that the U.S. furnish Israel with defensive arms, noting that an arms race “is already on and Israel may soon be out of the running. “Beyond this,” said the labor leader, “the free world should take the lead in promoting a permanently peaceful agreement between the Arab nations and Israel, supplemented by a program of technical, economic and financial assistance which would permit all nations in that area to work for a brighter future for their people in peace.”

Many of the major American Jewish organizations issued Israel Independence Day messages appealing for aid to Israel. In a special anniversary message, the State of Israel Bond Organization said, the Middle East “crisis poses a most serious menace to Israel’s economy, as well as to her security” and the “results of eight years of heroic” self-sacrifice and historic effort are at stake.” It called on American Jews to “support” with our dollars the projects Israel’s people have undertaken with their hearts and hands.