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New Jewish Party Formed in Palestine; Asks Linking of All Semitic Countries

August 26, 1942
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An organization with the avowed aim of unifying the Semitic countries, including a bi-national Palestine, and linking an Arab federation of states to the democratic world, was founded here today.

The organization, to be known as “Ichud” (Unity), was established at a meeting of 60 Palestine notables called together by Dr. Judah L. Magnes, president of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem and long a proponent of a bi-national Palestine. Among those who attended the meeting were Miss Henriette Szold and Prof. Martin Buber, noted German-Jewish philosopher.

A presidium was elected consisting of Dr. Magnes, Miss Szold, Dr. Buber, Moshe Smilansky, president of the Jewish Farmers’ Association, Chaim Kalvarisky, former head of the Arab department of the Jewish Agency for Palestine, and others.

In outlining the program of the new organization, Dr. Magnes urged the creation of a committee for the preparation of a plan for a bi-national Arab-Jewish State in Palestine. He also suggested the elimination from the by-laws of the Jewish National Fund of the paragraph which provides that land acquired by the JNF is for Jews only. A number of those present at the conference expressed opposition to the formation of the Ichud organization.

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