The first meeting of the newly-established Association for Friendly Relations between Israel and the United States was held here last night, with American Ambassador James G. McDonald and Associate Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas present. Others who attended the meeting included members of the Israeli Government, the Knesset and the judiciary and prominent private citizens.
In opening the meeting, Dr. Mordecai Nurok, a Mizrachi leader and member of the Israeli parliament, told the assembly that the people of Israel have a special regard for the United States and remember the great support extended by the United States in the establishment of the Jewish state. He emphasized the new organization would be non-political in character and would aim at developing mutual relations, popularizing American culture, science and democratic procedures in Israel and giving the United States a concept of Israel’s cultural and social values and its mission in the Middle East.
Ambassador McDonald declared that establishment of this organization came as a “pleasant surprise.” He expressed appreciation of the efforts to develop friendly relations and cultural exchanges between Israel and the United States and termed it as a contribution to world peace and freedom.
Justice Douglas described his impressions of Israel and especially of life in the cooperative settlements. He expressed the conviction that democratic methods prevailed in Israel and voiced the hope that closer cooperation between Israel and the United States would develop.
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.
