The American Zionist Federation, concluding its national convention here, called on all governments and the United Nations to “reject all extortion and ransom demands and to deal resolutely with those who barter in innocent lives.” The convention said it was “especially outraged” by the Soviet “education tax” on would-be emigrants, and denounced it “as an atavistic return to medieval anti-Jewish ransom tactics, as the infamous practices of men who traded in human bodies and as a policy of extortion in its most trans-parent and vulgar form.”
Applauding the “courage and wisdom” of Soviet Jews who have refused to pay the tax, and of Sen. Henry M. Jackson (D. Wash.) for trying to eliminate it through economic pressure, the AZF declared: “The world will not be misled or appeased by ‘token’ releases of educated Jews without the tax and calls upon the government of the USSR to immediately and unequivocally rescind its ‘education tax’ on exit visas.”
HAILS BIPARTISAN SUPPORT TO ISRAEL
In another resolution, the AZF declared that terrorism by Arabs as a “political or extra-political tool” was an offense to humanity and civilization” perpetrated by “common criminals.” It urged international action to thwart terrorism and hijacking. The convention hailed “the broad bipartisan (American) support accorded to Israel,” and credited this support with a major role in maintaining “the two-years’-long cease-fire, the departure of the massive Soviet presence in Egypt and the increasing peace along the Israel-Arab frontier.”
Special commissions were established at the convention to consider new public affairs programs, efforts to maintain pressure on the USSR for repeal of the exit tax, efforts to combat Arab terrorism, and expansion of grassroots Zionist activity in American Jewish communities.
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.
