Zionists Laud South African Government for Supporting Israel

The 24th biennial national convention closed here today after adopting resolutions deploring the arming of the Arab states by the major powers and protesting the persecution-of Zionists in Rumania and other East European states. Some 500 delegates from all parts of the Union and Rhodesia attended the sessions.

The South African Zionists also recorded their appreciation of their government’s support of Zionist aspirations and Israel and urged the government to support Israel in her present difficulties. The session also laid plans for launching the United Israel Appeal nationally next month and pledged full support of the Jewish National Fund, immigration to Israel, youth work, education and women’s activities.

At a session devoted to immigration, it was reported that about 1, 000 South African Jews had settled in Israel since the Jewish State was established. However, concern was expressed because the rate of immigration was falling off. It was also decided to establish a branch of PATWA–the specialized immigration organization for technical and scientific workers–in South Africa.

Simon Kuper, president of the federation, called for a return to the principles of Theodor Herzl, founder of the modern Zionist movement. He rejected as extreme the views of former Premier David Ben Gurion that the only true Zionist is one who settles in Israel, as he objected to the extreme view of Assistant Secretary of State Henry A. Byroade that Israel should stop viewing itself as the center of world Jewry. He also hailed the pro-Zionist views expressed in Washington recently by Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.