Zionist Political Body Hopes Arabs Will Accept Friendship Offered by Jews

The Political Advisory Committee of the World Zionist Organization, composed of representatives of all Zionist groups, today issued a statement expressing the hope that “the Arabs in and around Palestine will grasp the ## of fellowship which is extended by the Jews of Palestine and the Jewish people everywhere.”

The Committee, which was the advisory body to the Jewish Agency executive during the U.N. General Assembly session, emphasized its confidence that “Jews and Arabs ##other can build in Palestine a model of democracy, culture and prosperity for the ## Near and Middle East.”

The statement declared that the majority of the Committee received the United Nations decision “with gratification.” At the same time, it expressed regret over ## fact that Jerusalem is outside the Jewish state and that “important areas of Palestine linked with Jewish history and contemporary Jewish achievements are excluded from the Jewish state.”

The Committee expressed its appreciation to all nations which voted in favor ## partition at the Assembly, and singled out the United States and the Soviet Union ## giving the lead to other nations” in fostering an equitable solution.” It congratulated the members of the Jewish Agency executive for the “effective and states##like” conduct of their presentations before the U.N.

“We do not underestimate the difficulties, the hardships and the hazards which will beset the establishment of a Jewish state and particularly the initial chapter ## its existence. Yet we are confident that the obstacles will be surmounted by the Jewish community of Palestine reinforced by multitudes of newcomers who have been warning for their chance to enter Zion’s gates of salvation, and by their fellow ##ws throughout the world,” the statement said.

Dr. Israel Goldstein, chairman of the Committee, in issuing the statement said that “there has been close contact and continuous exchange of opinion between the political Advisory Committee and the executive of the Jewish Agency” and that “in no instance did the Agency executive disregard a view supported by a majority of the Committee,” nine members of which are from Palestine. Dr. Abba Hillel Silver and Moshe ##hertok, members of the Jewish Agency executive, expressed their appreciation to the committee at a press conference today at the Agency headquarters here.