Zionist youth groups in Russian-occupied Poland are openly resisting efforts of the Soviet authorities to dissolve them, it was revealed today in the Zionist Review, organ of the Zionist Federation of Great Britain.
The Review quotes a report by leaders of Hashomer Hatzair, labor Zionist youth organization, who declared that the decision to resist was taken in the hope “that with the tremendous changes taking place, the Soviet Government might change its attitude to Zionism.”
The report revealed that during the first few weeks of the Russian occupation the attitude of the Government to Zionist activity remained undefined. Zionists were left alone, the report said, although Bundists (Jewish Socialists) were arrested, while the legal status of the Palestine training centers was not clarified.
The Soviet commissars, according to the report, were surprised by the exist ence of the training centers but nevertheless made it clear from the outset that they would never agree to continuation of Zionist activities or emigration in Palestine. Four organizations, including Hashomer Hatzair, decided to continue functioning under all circumstances, the report said, adding:
“We registered our kibbutzim (colonies) not as refugees, as some suggested, but as groups preparing themselves for Palestine. We notified our branches to register with the Government. We decided to confront the Government with the fact that the Zionist movement exists and must be taken into consideration. We hoped that with the tremendous changes taking place, the Soviet Government might change its attitude to Zionism.”
The Zionists, the report continued, at the same time prepared for the worst and arranged means of contact with parent Zionist organizations. Meanwhile, reports were received of renewed study groups, with the students deciding to speak only Hebrew among themselves and to listen to the radio for news of Palestine. “All this,” the report said, “was carried on spontaneously by youths aged 16 to 21 without directions from above.”
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