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South African Jewish Leader Halls Premier Smuts De Facto Recognition of Israel

May 28, 1948
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Max J. Spitz, chairman of the South African Jewish Appeal, which in partnership with Joint Distribution Committee, conducts aid operations on behalf of distressed Jews in Europe and elsewhere, at a press conference here today hailed prime Minister Jan Christian Smuts’ de facto recognition of recognition of Israel as “an important element to the establishment of peace in that troubled area.

South African recognition of the new Jewish state, the first extended by a British Commonwealth nation, Spitz declared is “completely consistent” with the views of Prime Minister Smuts who has been “a staunch supporter of the Zionist ideal for many years.” The 100,000 Jews of South Africa, in common with the American Jewish community, are “absolutely confident in the ultimate victory of the people of Israel, and will do their utmost to contribute to it,” he said.

Reporting on the Jewish Appeal campaign in his country, Spitz announced that, in addition to contributions of money, South African continues to forward substantial amounts of clothing and food to needy Jewry continues to forward of his visit to America, he explained, is “the mapping out of the ways and means by which South African Jews, together with the great American Jewish community the speedy Jews of other free communities, can help bring about most effectively the speedy rehabilitation of the continent’s Jewish survivors.” He lauded the coordinated operations between his organization and JDC.

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