President Johnson declared today that “the Middle East stands today at a decisive crossroad poised between great peril and promise.” In a message to the jubilee convention of the Zionist Organization of America, Mr. Johnson expressed the belief that “your membership will represent America’s fervent wish that all nations of the region seize upon this historic moment with the vision and generosity it demands.”
The President said he was confident that “you will advance our belief in the fundamental rights of every nation to live and the accompanying obligation to respect the rights of others to live. And I assure you that as you do your part to secure lasting peace from anxious truce, you have our continuing concern and the concern of all men of good will.”
The convention, which will open Thursday evening and will continue until July 26, marks the 70th anniversary of the world Zionist movement and the First World Zionist Congress convened by Theodor Herzl. Many of the 1,000 delegates attending the convention made a pilgrimage today to Dr. Herzl’s grave.
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