Z.O.A. President Takes Issue with American Jewish Committee

Benjamin G. Browdy, president of the Zionist Organization of America, today issued a statement taking issue with the American Jewish Committee’s views on the right of Zionist groups in the United States “to affiliate or disaffiliate” themselves with groups in Israel.

“After recently instructing the State of Israel, by resolution, what to do and what not to do in its relations with World Jewry in general and the World Zionist Organization and the Jewish Agency in particular, the American Jewish Committee presumes to direct the Zionist Organization of America as to what line of policy American Zionism is to follow, ” Mr. Browdy says in his statement. “The American Jewish Committee, I note, does not like a certain resolution which the Zionist Organization of America adopted at its 54th Convention at Atlantic City, and the American Jewish Committee has no hesitancy in advising us as to the error of our ways.

“As far as we are aware, nothing in any resolution passed by the Zionist Organization of America was ever intended to bind the members of the American Jewish Committee. Why the leaders of the American Jewish Committee should now take it upon themselves to interfere in our own affairs concerning our affiliation or disaffiliation with Israel groups, is beyond rational comprehension. We Zionists can resolve our own differences without outside aid, ” the Z.O.A. president declares.