Jewish and Non-jewish Greet Israel on 22nd Anniversary; Nixon Hopes for Peace

Jewish and non-Jewish leaders all over the country paid their respects today to Israel on her 22nd anniversary. President Nixon wrote to Israel’s President Zalman Sharer stating that “Israel’s courage and progress continue to have my respect, and its achievements have. been Impressive. It Is my hope that the coming year will be crowned with the peace we all seek and desire.” Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller proclaimed today Israel Independence Day throughout New York State, noting that “the stability of Israel offers the possibility of permanent peace in the Middle East.” Mayor Frank A. Sedita, of Buffalo, N.Y., proclaimed Israel Independence Day In his city, and stated, “The friendship of the citizens of the State of Israel and the citizens of the United States of America is based not only on the legal recognition each of each by the respective governments but also upon the shared moral and spiritual heritage of Western civilization.”

Mayor Sam Massell, of Atlanta, Ga., the first Jew to hold that office there, declared that “The early settlers of our land came with their Bibles in their hands and in their hearts and minds as well, confident that they could build a New Jerusalem, a Jerusalem of spirit here in America. Twenty-two years ago another people, equally determined and equally dedicated to the principles of democracy, proclaimed a New Jerusalem In Jerusalem itself.” Edward Ginsberg, general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal called on American Jews to use Independence Day “to reaffirm our determination that our historic Identification with Israel’s people will never falter, and that the chain of Jewish unity re-established in 1948 will never again be broken.” Jacques Torczyner. president of the Zionist Organization of America, renewed his appeal for the sale of more Jet aircraft to Israel to re-establish the military balance of power in the Mideast. Jacob Stein, president of the United Synagogue of America, sent a cable to Israel’s president Zalman Shazar pledging the Conservative organization’s “solidarity with the gallant people of Israel who are manning the ramparts in defense of their freedom and security.”