Zionist Congress Body Asks Non-zionists Be Invited into Jewish Agency

A decision to recommend to the World Zionist Congress that non-Zionists be invited to join the Jewish Agency was adopted here today by the Organization Committee of the Congress. The committee recommended that the Jewish Agency executive be empowered to formulate, together with the Zionist Actions Committee, the most useful approach to implementing this recommendation.

Dr. Emanuel Neumann, chairman of the national executive of the Zionist Organization of America, declared that he did not oppose bringing non-Zionists into the Agency executive, but wanted to know how the non-Zionists would contribute in an organized fashion to the aims of the Agency. He suggested that the Congress create a means of representation for all communities outside Israel to keep itself from becoming a “second Knesset.”

Dr. Neumann challenged the proposal to eliminate all parties from the Zionist movement, insisting that it was the right of all Zionists to express opinions about conditions in Israel. Else, he asked, “how can you expect Jews not only to contribute money, but also to invest capital, send their children and settle here themselves.” He declared that it was impossible to maintain a virile Zionist movement unless the State of Israel recognizes the importance of giving the movement all possible strength, support and prestige.

Zvi Lurie, member of the Jewish Agency executive and an Israeli Mapam leader, declared that in the first part of the Congress the delegates had addressed themselves to the Jews and non-Jews of the world in asking for support of Israel in the current situation, in the second part “we spoke of ourselves and our work and colonization in Israel” and in the third part “we must direct ourselves to the Jewish people.” Of others, he continued, “we ask arms” but of ourselves “we must demand the weapon on which there is no embargo” the immigration of pioneers.

S. Z. Shragai, of the Agency executive, again demanded speedy immigration of Jews from North Africa and asked that more attention be paid to attracting immigrants from the Western countries. Yehuda Braginsky, director of the Agency’s absorption department, asked for the means to assure the immigration of 100,000 Jews to Israel this year.

At the conclusion of the debate, Dr. Neumann expressed the “deep sorrow” of the American delegation over the death of Sen. Alben W. Barkley. He characterized the former Vice President as a “liberal statesman, world humanitarian, Zionist all, and friend of Israel.”

Israel Kraikerman, a left Labor Zionist delegate from the United States, died here suddenly yesterday and was buried at Mishmar Hanegev, an Achdut Avodah settlement. He was eulogized by Zerubavel, a member of the Agency executive.