The charge that “certain circles” in the State Department are manifesting a mood and trend “which envisages an Israeli cultural and intellectual standard reduced to the lowest common denominator by the influx of Oriental Jews into the State, ” was voiced here today at a conference of Zionist leaders by Harry Torczyner, chairman of the Public Affairs Committee of the Zionist Organization of America.
The speaker further asserted that “in the opinion of the State Department this would make Israel more acceptable to the Arab states and would be less troublesome than an alert, truly democratic Jewish State.” On the other hand, Mr. Torczyner pointed out “Israel’s drive toward advancing democracy and the raising of all standards in the Middle East by its own example. To this end Israel needs the continuing support of the West economically, politically and morally. “
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.
