Weizmann Institute Award to Carter

Israel’s Weizmann Institute of Science presented an honorary Ph. D. to President Carter in recognition of his role in bringing the heads of Egypt and Israel together at the peace table at Camp David. The presentation last Friday marked the opening of a three-day scientific conference of the Institute attended by some 400 persons which included delegations from Israel, Britain, West Europe, the United States and Canada.

In accepting the award, Carter noted that Chaim Weizmann, the British scientist and Zionist leader in whose name the Institute was founded in 1949, contributed to “the whole world.” The President noted that “it is not a coincidence that two of Israel’s Presidents — Weizmann and Ephraim Katzir — were scientists. Urging that morality be associated with science, Carter observed that the Nazis had scientific advantages but without morality, thus the Holocaust resulted.

Speaking of the just concluded visit by Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Premier Menachem Begin’s visit this week, Carter said the issues at state “are indeed momentous.” Carter also spoke of “the preservation of Israel and its security and the hope that Israel can hope to live in a spirit of brotherhood with all her neighbors.”

Prof. Michael Sela, chairman of the Institute’s International Board of Governors, said the “Weizmann Institute will do its best to serve the cause of peace through scientific exchange of genuine and concrete benefits to Israel, to Egypt and to those of the Arab states that may, one day, join us both.” He noted that among the 400 odd basic and applied. research projects now underway at the Weizmann Institute are some dealing with solar energy, the possible use of plants for the production of fuel, research in water resources and management and distribution, and most effective uses of desalination.