Jewish leaders sympathetic to Israel’s defeated Labor Party have reacted to yesterday’s election results by saying they respect the Israeli people’s democratic right to decide its own government and reaffirming their support for the Jewish State.
Eric Moonman, MP, chairman of the Zionist Federation and co-chairman of the community’s Solidarity with Israel Campaign, told the JTA that the Likud’s success “in no way alters the enormous activity which has built up, our commitment and the direct need to support Israel whichever party is in power.” Dr. S. Levenberg, veteran Labor Zionist, expressed surprise at the results, but added: “We have to respect the verdict.” Diaspora support for Israel would continue, he said.
However, an official statement by British Poale Zion, to which both Moonman and Levenberg belong, voiced “deep concern” at the result and said that they would offer” constructive criticism” if a new coalition government adopted “anti-Labor measures.”
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