Dr. Nahum Goldmann said today that American involvement in Cambodia does not make it easy for Americans to intervene in the Middle East where the Soviet role is becoming increasingly more serious. Dr. Goldmann spoke at a press conference prior to his departure for Zurich where he will attend a meeting of the European executive of the World Jewish Congress. He plans to remain in Europe for several months. The veteran Zionist leader who is president of the WJC, aroused a political storm in Israel that has not yet abated over his aborted plans to meet Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, in Cairo and his sharp criticism of the Israel government’s approach to peace with the Arabs. Dr. Goldmann appeared at his farewell press conference to be more concerned over the expanded Soviet involvement in Egypt than with politics. He said he foresaw it 18 months ago but nobody can say what will happen tomorrow or the next day. He expressed the hope that America would react but added, no one can be sure because America’s involvement in Cambodia made it more difficult and the Russians are taking a tougher position.
Dr. Goldmann warned Israeli youth not to misinterpret his article in the April issue of Foreign Affairs Quarterly in which he criticized the Israel government. He never said the government was against peace but questioned only its policies and methods to achieve peace, Dr. Goldmann said. He said the article expressed the “genuine ideal” of Zionism, adding, “because we are a unique nation we must have a unique character.” His article was strongly denounced by the World Zionist Executive last week in a resolution disassociating Itself from Dr. Goldmann’s views. The Zionist leader was also the target of bitter personal attacks by some of his former colleagues. Dr. Goldmann replied today that the Zionist Executive has no authority to decide who is a Zionist and who is not and what Zionism is and what it is not. “They cannot teach me what Zionism is,” he said.
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.
