World Jewry Has Not Sufficiently Mobilized Resources in Solidarity with Israel, Cojo Meeting Told

Representatives of Jewish communities on five continents, meeting here today under the auspices of the World Conference of Jewish Organizations (COJO). heard acting chairman Charlotte Jacobson of New York charge that world Jewry had “not sufficiently mobilized its resources in solidarity with Israel.” Mrs. Jacobson spoke at the opening session of a two-day COJO meeting that will be addressed by Simcha Dinitz. Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S. Alfred E. Atherton, Assistant Secretary of State for Near-Eastern Affairs; David Landes, Professor of History at Harvard University; and Yosef Tekoah, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations.

In her keynote address, Mrs. Jacobson urged the 75 delegates to intensify their efforts in building strong public support and understanding of Israel’s political position. She cited the recent action of UNESCO in barring Israel from regional membership, asserting: “We must praise and support those distinguished scientists, educators and cultural leaders who have denounced the UNESCO action, but we must win many, many more to the cause. There is a vast untapped potential of support for Israel, even among people whose governments may vote against Israel in international forums. Today as never before it is our task to mobilize this support in every land where there is a Jewish community and men of good will.”

The COJO meeting is being attended by delegates from these 11 organizations: American Jewish Congress; Conseil Representatif des Juifs de France (CRIF): Delegacion de Asociaciones Israelitas Argentinas (DAIA); Executive Council of Australian Jewry; Jewish Labor Committee; South African Jewish Board of Deputies; World Jewish Congress; and World Zionist Organization. Mrs. Jacobson is chairman of the American Section of the World Zionist Organization.