Ben-gurion Clarifies Relationship Between Israel, and Jews in Other Lands

The relationship between Israel and Jews in other free democracies, which provoked strong controversy earlier this year, has been clarified by a firm understanding in the form of the joint statement by Israel Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion and Jacob Blaustein, honorary president of the American Jewish Committee. An announcement of the understanding was made today simultaneously in Jerusalem and New York by the Prime Minister and Mr. Blaustein.

An important point in the understanding, as stated by Mr. Ben-Gurion, is that “we, the people of Israel, have no desire and no intention to interfere in any way in the internal affairs of Jewish communities abroad.” Underscored in the understanding is the fact that the emigration of Jews to Israel is at their own “free discretion” and that nothing should be done by the Israel Government which would “undermine the sense of security and stability of American Jewry.”

Mr. Blaustein returned this weekend to this country after extensive discussions on this issue in Israel with Prime Minister Ben-Gurion and members of his cabinet. He reported today on his understanding with the Prime Minister at a plenary session of the American Jewish Committee’s 54th annual meeting here.

Mr. Blaustein asserted here today that “in particular, Prime Minister Ben-Gurion undertook to do everything within his power to see to it that the understanding in the future is kept in spirit and in letter.” The Prime Minister also undertook to advise the members of his cabinet and other responsible members of the Government, of his desire “that the spirit and content of the understanding be fully respected.”

Mr. Blaustein, who went to Israel at the invitation of Mr. Ben-Gurion, reported that he gained a “strong official reaffirmation” from the Prime Minister of their 1950 understanding. He said that he spent hours in frank and full conversation with the Prime Minister on all aspects of the problem as he had in 1950.

A salient point of the Prime Minister’s 1950 statement stressed that “Israel represents and speaks only in behalf of its own citizens and in no way presumes to represent or speak in the name of Jews in any other country. We the people of Israel have no desire and no intention to interfere in any way in the internal affairs of Jewish communities abroad.”

An equally important point of the 1950 understanding was that “nothing should be said or done which could in the slightest degree undermine the sense of security and stability of American Jewry. The decision of whether they (Jews) wish to come (to Israel) permanently or temporarily, rests with the free discretion of the American Jew himself.”

Mr. Blaustein reporting on his conversation last week with Mr. Ben Gurion said; “It was admitted that some misunderstanding might have arisen.” The further understanding now reached is that “everything should be done on both sides in order to obviate misunderstandings in the future so that it will be entirely clear to everybody concerned that the 1950 agreement had lost none of its force and validity.”