Dr. Max Nussbaum, president of the Zionist Organization of America, called on President Johnson today “to take a personal hand” toward preventing a conflagration in the Middle East, by persuading the Arab states to drop their plans “to choke off the headwaters of the Jordan River.” He charged that the plan to cut off Israel’s water supply is “a demonical plan” by Egypt’s President Nasser “to maneuver Israel into making the first military move in defense of its very lifeline.”
Dr. Nussbaum made that statement in addressing the national executive council of the ZOA, which held an all-day meeting here today. The council is the ZOA’s governing body between annual conventions. He also called on West Germany to meet all of that country’s obligations to the Jewish people, including not only the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel but also the recall of German scientists at work in Egypt. This issue has been in contention between the two countries. The scientists are working on weapons of mass destruction aimed ultimately against Israel, Also sited were continued military aid to Israel and the extension of the statute of limitations, so that Nazi war criminals may be subjected to arrest and prosecution after the present out-off date of next may 8.
Referring to United States Ambassador Averell Harriman’s recent mission to Israel, he cited “reliable sources” which indicated that Mr. Harriman’s visit was primarily aimed at “pressuring Israel to refrain from making any move against the diversion of the water sources by the Arabs.” Dr. Nussbaum said that such a policy on the part of our State Department calls for a very strong protest, adding that “this is a policy of dubious morality.”
WORLD CONGRESS DEVELOPMENTS REPORTED; ZOA FOUNDATION FUNDS INCREASED
The meeting was presided over by Jacques Torezyner, chairman of the national executive council, who led a discussion on developments within the Zionist Movement following the recent 26th World Zionist Congress held in Jerusalem, as well as on the forthcoming elections to the Knesset (Israel’s Parliament) scheduled to be held in November.
Other speakers included Avraham Avidar, Israel Consul; Carol Pickel, national finance chairman; Gideon Patt, leader of the Young Zionists-Massada-of the ZOA; and Leon Ilutovich, acting executive director, who presented a report on the activities of the organization during the pasts six months. Mr. Torczyner, who is chairman of the head office of the World Union of General Zionists, headed by Dr. Emanuel Neumann, led a discussion on developments in the Zionist movement after the recent World Zionist Congress.
Mr. Ilutovich announced that $1,250,000 has been contributed by the ZOA Foundation since its establishment six months ago in wills, bequests and other types of gifts, with ZOA educational activities in this country and its projects in Israel as beneficiaries. At a morning session, Dr. Nussbaum paid tribute to Isaac M. Oberman, president of Bronx Zionist Region, in whose honor an additional $150,000 was pledged to the ZOA Foundation.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
