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Young Israel Convention Hears Report on Religion in Israel

June 25, 1957
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Dr. Samuel Kahane, director of the Ministry of Religion in Israel, today told the 800 delegates attending their 45th annual convention of the National Council of Young Israel, “that Israel’s religious denominations enjoy complete freedom of religion. The Arabs and Christians of Israel are accorded every opportunity by the Government of Israel to practice their religious rituals and rites.”

“The Government of Israel.” Dr. Kahane reported, “is expending large sums of money to assist the Christian-Arab minority populations in acquiring and maintaining such facilities as schools, religious courts and ecclesiastical institutions. The Arabs of Israel are enjoying a higher standard of economic, cultural and social living than their Arab brethren in neighboring countries. Arab illiteracy has been considerably reduced through the constant striving of the Israeli Government.”

The convention adopted a resolution calling upon President Eisenhower to effectuate round-table peace conferences between Israeli and Arab leaders in Washington. The resolution stated that the Eisenhower Doctrine would be ineffectual without the resumption of peaceful relations between Israel and her Arab neighbors.

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