Rabbi Joseph P. Sternstein. president of the Zionist Organization of America, urged that the United States “resist being stampeded into precipitous actions and pressures on Israel.” in an address prepared for delivery tonight at the opening of the ZOA’s 79th annual national convention at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, Sternstein also attacked international terrorism, denounced the idea of a Palestinian state and said American Jews are solidly behind Israel.
Sternstein said that the U.S. could show its independence in the Middle East by moving its Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and by walking out when the representative of Libya presides at the Security Council this month since that country is “an internationally accused gangster, systematically and maniacally fomenting blood-thirsty terrorism.” He said that since the UN has failed to act against terrorism, the U.S. should move “diplomatically and economically, against nations that shelter, give base and support to terrorism.”
The ZOA leader declared that the core of the Arab-Israeli conflict is not the “Palestinian problem,” but the inability of the Arab states to “reconcile themselves to the existence of Israel.” He said the Palestinians have a state of their own which is Jordan.
“We must note a strong objection to a Palestinian mini-state on the West Bank of the Jordan and Syria,” Sternstein said. “First, because the territory is Jewish historically, by international law and geopolitically. Second, such a ministate will pose a grave danger to Israel’s security and be a source of constant warfare.”
Sternstein declared that the “American Jewish community overwhelmingly supports Israel and appreciates her position.” He said while constructive criticism is welcomed within the Jewish community “the ZOA will fight any and every attempt to lie about the state of affairs and to distort the realities of events.”
The ZOA leader also urged American Jews to take up “the banner of Zionism as never before; our enemies desire to make it an epithet of shame; we wear it as a Badge of Honor.” He said ZOA plans to establish a National ZOA. Young Leadership Fellowship at five regional centers where young families of the ages of 25 to 40 will engage in a year-round cycle of study and action. “Zionism must once again lead American Jewish life in spirit, vision and actions.”
TWO CEREMONIES HELD
Yesterday, on the eve of its convention, the ZOA held two ceremonies, one denouncing terrorism and the other paying tribute to the U.S. and American Zionists.
The denunciation of terrorism took place in front of the Isaiah Wall across from the United Nations where about 40. ZOA members led by Sternstein gathered and read Psalms and said the Kaddish in memory of the victims of terrorism in general and in particular Mrs. Dora Bloch, the Israeli hijack victim who was reportedly murdered in Uganda. Two banners at the ceremony read “Libya Guilty of World Terrorism” and “Outlaw World Terrorism.”
Bronx Borough President Robert Abrams, a ZOA member, denouncing what he called the “callous indifference” to the murder of Jews and others by terrorists, called on all countries to deny landing rights and refuse to fly their planes to countries that assist terrorists.
Following the ceremony at the Isaiah Wall about 300 ZOA members visited the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. At Liberty Island, the site of the Statue, Sternstein read “a Zionist thank you to all America on the occasion of the American Bicentennial–for America and Israel are truly–‘Partners in Democracy.'” Sternstein also paid tribute to the some 50,000 Americans who now live in Israel and those who plan to Join them for having “reached the pinnacle of Zionist commitment.”
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
