The fourth conference of European Zionists since the end of World War II today asked the countries of Eastern Europe to enable every Jew who desires to do so. to emigrate to Israel. (For earlier news on the conference see page 2. )
In a proclamation adopted by the 1, 600 delegates, the parley also appealed to the Communist bloc and to “the conscience of the world” to recognize the national rights of Jewish communities and to accord them facilities for a free national and cultural life determined by themselves “in their own language. ” It asked further that the Jews be given the right to direct their own educational and cultural institutions.
A resolution passed later stressed the importance of immigration to Israel from all countries and noted that it must be nurtured through the encouragement of pioneer youth groups. The resolution called Zionist youth movements the best bulwarks against assimilation and asked that their budgets not be cut. It asked the restoration of cuts in the Jewish Agency budget for this department, and asked still more funds for expansion of youth work.
Dr. Walter Eytan, director general of Israel’s Foreign Ministry, speaking on the political situation in which the Jewish State finds itself, predicted in time the Arab states would realize that a modern, strong Israel is an asset to the Middle East–“something worth fighting for instead of fighting against. ” He said the technical difficulties involved in an agreement between Israel and the Arab states could readily be overcome.
Zvi Lurie, of the Jewish Agency executive, reviewing the tasks of the Zionist movement, put special emphasis on the Jewish education of the children. He called on all Zionist members to send their children to day schools and to prevail on them to study Hebrew. On the question of voluntary immigration to Israel, he had the kindest words for Britain and suggested that Jews living in the United States and Canada could “learn” much in this respect from the British Jews,
The Mayor and city councillors of Amsterdam yesterday gave an afternoon reception for the delegates to the Zionist parley at the town hall. He paid tribute to the enrichment of Holland’s culture by the Jews and expressed the hope that the conference would help strengthen Jewish community life in the Netherlands. “
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