The World Zionist Organization Executive announced today that the decision last Friday to cancel Dr. Nahum Goldmann’s appearance at the forthcoming Zionist Congress pertains only to the festive session on 75 years of Zionism. Dr. Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, was to have been the only speaker at the session. The Zionist Executive announcement followed criticism in the press and from various quarters.
The statement today said that there was no intention of denying Dr. Goldmann or any other Zionist personality the right to participate in or address any session of the plenary or committee of the Congress. It stated that the decision to withdraw the invitation was taken as a result of Dr. Goldmann’s statement on Soviet Jewry on Dec. 19 before the Board of Deputies of British Jews. The Executive’s announcement added that in view of his statement there he could not be the only speaker in an evening devoted to the evaluation of the Zionist movement’s history.
In the previous news stories regarding the withdrawal of the invitation, it had been reported that the decision was made by the Jewish Agency. This was incorrect. The decision had been taken by a vote of 7-2 with one abstention by the WZO Executive.
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