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Ben Gurion Hails Soviet Fight Against Nazis, Aid to Israel on Anniversary of Revolution

November 8, 1949
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In a message to Marshal Joseph Stalin, Premier of the Soviet Union, on the occasion of the 32nd anniversary of the October Revolution, Premier David Ben Gurion today declared: "The Jewish people, building its own state afresh in its historic homeland, will not forget Soviet Russia’s courageous fight against the Nazi enemy and (its) faithful help in the establishment of the Israel state."

Pavel Yershov, Soviet Minister to Tel Aviv, yesterday told a meeting at Beth Haam, sponsored by the Israel Communist Party and Mapam, that the "Soviet Union extends its friendship to all progressive elements and is also prepared to help peace-loving peoples against warmongers the world over." Other speakers at the meeting, including Communist Shmuel Mikunis and Mapam leaders Jacob Riftin and Moshe Sneh, called for Israel to stand firm on the Jerusalem issue and for "unhindered access to the Red Sea." They also called on Israel to "rely on important Soviet support."

The new city of Jerusalem witnessed yesterday the unusual sight of two large Soviet flags hoisted atop the Russian building, one wing of which is now occupied by the Israel Supreme Court, the other wing by Russian Orthodox Archimandrite Leonid.

Israel’s district commissioner referred the matter to the Foreign Ministry which inquired of the Russian embassy whether it was proper to raise the Soviet flag on a building occupied by an Israel Government institution. Official sources are convinced that the flags were flown because of a misunderstanding.

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