Charges and Counter-charges Aired at Zionist Meetings in Philadelphia

The charge that the Zionist Organization of America is displaying a tendency “to involve itself more and more with partisan activities and to enter into political controversies in Israel which are not in the domain of Diaspora Zionists,” was voiced here by Louis Lipsky, veteran American Zionist leader. He was addressing the first of a series of local public meetings called by the newly-formed Independent Zionists of America organization.

“As Zionists we must take the lead,” Mr. Lipsky declared, “in propagating the idea of a return to the broad concept of Zionism and Zionist tasks, urging unity in the fundamental work of Zionism, namely the moral and economic support of Israel, the fostering of a great Hebraic movement especially among the youth, of Aliyah and Halutziut in the broadest sense.” The new Independent Zionists of America organization, Mr. Lipsky explained, will conduct its work in “a true comradeship,” with no ties to any parties in Israel.

Judge Louis E. Levinthal of Philadelphia, chairman of the national provisional committee of the new organization, reviewed the circumstances that had led to the launching of the Independent Zionist movement in America. Tracing the history of Zionism in America before and since the establishment of the State of Israel, he stressed the need of “a strong free democratic Zionist movement today to fulfill the mission started 60 years ago.”

The statements by the dissident group that its differences with the Zionist Organization of America grew out of the question of whether or not the ZOA should be affiliated with a political party in Israel were rejected by Dr. Emanual Neumann, chairman of the national executive committee of the ZOA.

Speaking at a meeting of the Philadelphia Zionist Organization at the Adelphi Hotel, Dr. Neumann charged that differences, “always involving the same few individuals, arose long before 1951 when the ZOA convention adopted the resolution of “so-called affiliation” with the General Zionist Party of Israel. He said the group was opposed to the ZOA majority in 1942 over President Roosevelt’s attitude to Palestine; again in 1946 over majority opinion against further negotiation with Britain on the Palestine Mandate; and once more in 1948 over conditions of fund raising activities for Israel in the United States.

Arnold R. Ginsburg, president of the Philadelphia Zionist Organization, in an address accepting a second term as president, urged unity in Zionist ranks. He said he deplored attempts to create a new Zionist organization and declared that if “the future activities of these few people jeopardize the success or effectiveness of the important Zionist work being done by the Philadelphia Zionist Organization and the ZOA, we shall not stand idly by, we shall not remain silent.”