Z.O.A. Head Replies to Ben Gurion’s Attack on U.S. Leaders

Benjamin Browdy, president of the Zionist Organization of America, this week-end replied to Israel Premier David Ben Gurion’s criticisms last week of the leadership of the American Zionist movement, calling it “a most unfortunate outburst stemming from the emotional stress which the Israel Government is undergoing as a result of the heavy economic burdens with which it is struggling.”

Mr. Browdy also expressed the belief that the Premier’s attack was “made primarily for domestic consumption in an attempt to placate criticism leveled against the decision of the Israel Government and the Jewish Agency to introduce a system of selective immigration to Israel. It has become a popular pastime in some party circles in Israel to shift the blame upon American Zionists for internal difficult situations which inevitably arise from economic and other hardships faced by a newly born country,” the Z.O.A. president complained.

He said that the Premier’s attack on the American Zionist leadership was “ill timed” because it came at a time when the leaders in a united and concerted fashion are “engaged in the gigantic task of mobilizing all American Jewish manpower and resources to aid in the economic development of the new state.” Mr. Browdy also stated that “it is significant that it was entirely due to the efforts of the American Zionist leaders which prevented the Israel Government from going into financial bankruptcy.”