The conviction that American Jewish leaders “will find the right way” to assure not only funds for Israel but also “the direct participation of Americans with technical skills who are just as urgently needed in Israel,” was expressed here tonight by David Zvi Pinkas, Israeli Minister of Communications.
Speaking at a reception at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in his honor, sponsored by the national administrative board of the Mizrachi Organization of America, the Israel Cabinet member said: “The Government of Israel is actively at work on consideration of means of making special provisions for the trained American experts we so vitally need. These plans are being developed in the belief that while the spirit which leads Americans to work side by side with us will inspire them to remain and make their special contributions, we must do everything we possibly can to soften the very real impact which our limited supplies of life’s necessities must and does make on these partners in democracy.”
The Zionist leader stressed that the people of Israel had been greatly heartened, in shouldering their heavy burden, by the understanding and support of the United States. “I cannot over-emphasize the depth of understanding which prevails among all our people for the generous assistance extended to us by the United States and by American Jewry and the unqualified appreciation of that generosity,” he said. “I was very much impressed by the readiness to help which I observed at the national conference of the United Jewish Appeal this past week-end in Atlantic City.”
“We Israelis feel that our country is an outpost of democracy in the Middle East,” he declared. “This is not merely a polite phrase of diplomacy but an earnest and accurate representation of the feeling of our people. We are a people whose knowledge of oppression is a product of first-hand experience and we know the meaning of freedom. We are proud of our accomplishments in creating a free society and we believe that all men of good will share our pride.”
Reporting that Israel expects a record number of tourists during the coming travel session, Mr. Pinkas said, “to all of them, we extend a cordial invitation: Come and see for yourself.”
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.
