The World Zionist Executive addressed today a statement to the Jewish people everywhere declaring that Israel was “facing the gravest danger to its security and its very existence” in the current Middle East crisis.
“Our enemies, headed by President Nasser of Egypt, have mustered all their forces to besiege as, to paralyze our normal life and completely annihilate us,” the statement declared. “The people of Israel are alert to all dangers and prepared for every sacrifice. All sections of the people, regardless of community, standing or party affiliation, are united and standing firmly behind the state. The citizens of Israel have unstintingly placed their all — their possessions and their very life — at the disposal of the state in this fateful hour of trial.
“The manifestations of brotherliness and unconditional identification reaching us from all Jewish communities are a source of encouragement and inspiration to the people of Israel in their struggle and stand against all eventualities,” the statement continued. Asserting that the situation was worsening “from hour to hour” and that it was “impossible to tell how long this may last,” the statement declared:
“In this fateful hour, we call upon our brethren throughout the world to demonstrate the unity and strengthen the covenant of brotherhood between them and Zion and to enlist the sympathy and active support of the nations of the world and their leading figures for Israel’s just struggle, to step up aliyah and to encourage our best youth to come to Israel and provide working hands to take the places of those called to the defense of the country.”
The statement also called on Jews “to make a large-hearted and maximum effort to provide financial aid so that the State of Israel may withstand the heavy burden imposed on it,” The statement emphasized that “the financial means required in this emergency are unprecedented and their dimensions are incalculable.”
“Deeply conscious of the common fate of the Jewish people, we place our confidence in the loyalty and devoted efforts of all of its sons, wherever they may be,” the statement said. “The Zionist movement, which was the forerunner of the state and which brought it into being, must lead our people and arouse and mobilize it to fulfill its historic tasks. We call on you to rise as one to ensure the safety of Israel and its defense.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
