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of Weizmann Hailed by American Press and Leading Jewish Organizations

May 19, 1948
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The election of Dr. Chain Weizmann as President of Provisional Government of Israel was hailed today in leading American newspapers by Jewish leaders and major Jewish communal organizations.

The New York Times commented editorially that his election “cones now as a ?ural reward for years of faithful and distinguished service.” After reviewing Dr. Weizmann’s career in many fields, it added that “he is hound to prove a powerful pil### of state in building the new nation which he helped so much to bring into being.”

The Herald Tribune called the selection “a deserved recognition of a lifetime service to the cause which Israel embodies,” Pointing out that the civil strife Palestine has become an avowed war, the newspaper insists that Israel needs more an respect for her President.

“If the war is permitted to continue on its present basis–that is, without ### determination by the United Nations of the merits of the case–the United States ##st, in simple fairness, lift the arms embargo to permit Israel to obtain arms,” ### declared. “The embargo, as it now stands, is a negative act which gives positive ##### to the Arabs, and as such is not even consonant with a neutral attitude on the art of this country.”

FLAG OF ISRAEL HOISTED OVER WALDORF-ASTORIA, RESIDENCE OF DR. WEIZMANN

The flag of Israel was today flown side-by-side with the American flag at the {SPAN}##aldorf-Astoria Hotel where Dr. Weizmann is living during his stay in Hew New York According to protocol the flag of his nation flies over the residence of the chief of state wherever he may be. Dr. Emanuel Neumann today visited President Weizmann at his hotel and extended to him the well wishes of the Zionist Organization of America. A message of felicitations was also sent to Dr. Weizmann by Dr. Israel Goldstein, in behalf of the World Confederation of General Zionists.{/SPAN}In a message to Dr. Weizmann, the Jewish Labor Committee hailed his election, stating that “no man living has contributed so much” toward the creation of Israel. “We have deep faith that under your leadership the state of Israel will be steered in the direction of building the community to attain economic and political equality for all inhabitants so that peace and justice will prevail for our long suffering people.”

Expressing the deep appreciation of all American Jews for President Truman’s contribution “to the consummation of the two-thousand-year-old hope of the Jewish people,” Louis Lipsky, chairman of the executive committee of the American Jewish Conference, appealed today to the Chief Executive “to check the lawless invasion by neighboring Arab states into the state of Israel.” Lipsky urged that the U.S, “support action in the Security Council leading to the indictment of the Arab states as aggressors and that the government allow the shipment of arms and munitions to Israel to enable it to defend itself.”

Greetings were today sent to the women of Israel and to the new Jewish state by Dr. Gene Weltfish, president of the Congress of American Women, who hailed the constitutional guarantees of equality irrespective of race, religion or sex, as enunciated by Premier David Ben Gurion in his proclamation a few days ago. In another message to Ben Gurion the Congress pledged “itself to urge America to lift the arms embargo against the Jews and to help them repel foreign invasion.”

Mrs. Israel Goldstein, president of Pioneer Women, the women’s labor Zionist Organization of America, speaking for its 30,000 members, pledged loyal support to the new Jewish nation, and declared: “We accept the challenge which destiny has decreed to us to be an example to the world of the meaning of justice, brotherhood and understanding.”

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