A resolution calling on the United States Government to withhold arms from the Arab states “an long as real peace is not established between Israel and the Arab countries,” was adopted here tonight at the opening, session of the five-day convention of the Pioneer Women, the women’s labor Zionist organization of America.
The resolution noted that social and economic development of the Middle East could only be achieved through regional cooperation and asked the State Department “to bring all its influence to bear in the direction of direct negotiations between the Arab countries and Israel in which a peace treaty would be worked out by the parties themselves.”
Beba Idelson, member of the Israel Parliament and general secretary of the Working Women’s Council of Israel, addressed the convention, urging the Pioneer Women to intensify their efforts. “The world situation and the unique position of our state make it urgently necessary for us to build fast and to build on a large scale,” she said. “We must produce more in order to advance towards full independence.”
Mrs. Samuel Fine, national convention chairman, who presided at the opening session, said: “The inspiration of 28 years of close association with the Working Women’s Council in Israel furnished the strength which raised our organization from a small group in 1925 to one which now counts 40,000 strong, not ordinary, but dedicated members whose power as a force far Israel far outweighs its numerical significance.”
Mrs. Fine said that “as an American organization with a forward-looking program and a labor orientation, it is for this convention to re-affirm its continued support of legislation that is promulgated for the maximum good of the maximum number of people.” The Pioneer Women has established and maintains a wide network of children’s homes, day nurseries, rehabilitation centers for immigrant women and girls, vocational and trade schools, agricultural training schools for teenagers and other social services throughout Israel.
PRESIDENT ELCENHOWER, CHIEF JUSTICE WARREN GREET PARLEY
Messages of greetings from the President of the United States, the President of Israel and other leading figures in the United States and Israel were read at the opening session of the convention. President Eisenhower said in his message: “I am happy to send my greetings to the 13th biennial convention of Pioneer Women, the Women’s Labor Zionist Organization of America. May this convention in Washington be inspiring for those attending. My best wishes go to all of you.”
President Itzhak Ben Zvi of Israel cabled: “God spend you in the vital work which you are doing. There are few organizations, if any, that can pride themselves of such accomplishments. It must also be a source of greatest satisfaction to all of you that the labor movement of Israel, with which you are so closely connected, is the factor in its creation.”
Gov. Earl Warren, newly-appointed Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court, told the 600 delegates An a message that he extended best wishes fo a successful conference. Israel Prime Minister David Ben Gurlon called upon the delegates to intensify their efforts on behalf of Israel. Other messages and greetings came from Golda Meyerson, Israel Minister of Labor; Josef Sprinzak, Speaker of the Knesset; Mordecai Namir, general secretary of the Histadrut; and Nahum Goldman, chairman of the executive of the Jewish Agency.
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