Wilson to Be Invited to Become Head of the Labor Friends of Israel

Prime Minister Harold Wilson, who announced his resignation yesterday, will be invited to become the president of the Labor Friends of Israel organization, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency learned today.

Martin Cohen, general secretary of the group to which more than 100 Labor members of Parliament belong, said the invitation would be made in view of the Prime Minister’s record of friendship for the Jewish State. The presidency has been vacant since the death two years ago of Richard H.S. Grossman, the former Labor Minister. The invitation to Wilson will be extended as soon as he hands over his office to a new Prime Minister.

Although none of the main contenders for the Labor leadership has been as closely associated with Israel as Wilson, most of them are regarded as friendly toward her. James Callaghan, the Foreign Secretary, believes the Palestinian Arabs should have national self-expression, but only in the context of peace with Israel. When he met Jewish communal leaders recently, he pointed out that the idea was also favored by some members of the Israeli Cabinet.

Denis Healey, Chancellor of the Exchequer, was first nominated as a Parliamentary candidate in 1952 by the Leeds branch of the Poale Zion, with whom he has retained cordial links ever since. Anthony Wedgwood Benn, Energy Secretary, has long been associated with Mapam in Israel and is a devotee of the late Prof. Martin Buber. Roy Jenkins, Home Secretary, and Anthony Crossland, Secretary of the Environment, have visited Israel in recent years. Michael Foot, Secretary for Employment, who is a brother of Lord Caraton, Britain’s former UN Ambassador, makes a point of not committing himself on Middle East matters.