Rabbi Miller Pledges Aid to Israel in Message to Ben Gurion

In a message to Israel Premier David Ben Gurion replying to cabled congratulations from the Premier on his election to the presidency of the Zionist Organization of America, Rabbi Irving Miller this week-end pledged that during his administration the Z.O.A. would fight for the development of the Jewish State and the Zionist movement side by side with the Israelis as had been done by the Z.O.A. “under the leadership of Dr. Abba Hillel Silver.”

Declaring that Mr. Ben Gurion’s message to him would serve to strengthen the bonds of solidarity between American Zionists and the Israeli people, Rabbi Miller said that the Z.O.A. has always held that its support for Israel must be given fully and unreservedly and that only Israel citizens are entitled to shape the internal political life of their state. At the same time, the Z.O.A. has also maintained that Zionists throughout the world have a right to their opinions regarding developments in Israel and a right to express these opinions frankly, even when they are critical in nature.” Rabbi Miller further voiced confidence in his cable to Mr. Ben Gurion that “your clear statement affirming this right should dissipate the harmful tensions and disputes which have hampered our common efforts in the past.”