Search JTA's historical archive dating back to 1923

Shertok Going to London in Attempt to Solve Weizmann-ben Gurion Crisis

December 2, 1943
See Original Daily Bulletin From This Date
Advertisement

Moshe Shertok, chief of the political department of the Jewish Agency, will be sent to London shortly to attempt to iron our differences existing between David Ben Gurion, resigned chairman of the Jewish Agency executive, and Dr. Chaim Weizmann, it was decided today at a meeting of the Small Zionist Actions Committee here.

It was revealed at today’s meeting that Dr. Weizmann has informed Zionist leaders in Palestine who have urged him to come here immediately that “your persistence might raise the question of my further work.” A proposal by the Mizrachi that a delegation of three consisting of Shertok, Emil Schmorak and Rabbi Jacob Fishman, a Mizrachi leader, be sent to London was rejected. In voting to send the Agency political head to Britain, the meeting added the proviso that should he feel that the presence of more members of the Jewish Agency in London is desirable, he will so inform the Zionist executive.

The Actions Committee meeting was opened with an address protesting the raid on the settlement of Ramath Hakovesh and by passage of a resolution voicing the body’s sympathy and encouragement for the settlers in the colony and the widow of Shmuel Wolynetz, who died from wounds suffered during the incident. The action of the Hebrew press in publishing the facts as they obtained them and in refusing to reappear following their suspension by the Palestine Government until the ban on all papers was lifted was praised.

Editorials in the papers, which reappeared yesterday, stress that despite all difficulties, the struggle for a Jewish national home must continue. Davar, Labor daily, writes: “With all our heart and consciousness we must to try to avoid interpreting the Ramath Hakovesh incident as if we have a quarrel with representatives of the British authorities – there is no quarrel between the Yishuv and the British people. We stand together in the present struggle.” Haaretz calls on the Hebrew press to “pass on to other items on the agenda” while not forgetting what occurred at Ramath Hakovesh.” Touching on the present internal Zionist difficulties, the paper says: “More than ever it is obvious that an imperative condition to our success is unity.”

Recommended from JTA

Advertisement