Panthers to Delay U.S. Visit; Rally Dispersed by Police; Six Panthers Arrested

A leader of one of Israel’s Black Panther groups said last night that the group had postponed a planned visit to the United States intended to dramatize for American Jewry and its leaders the Panther charges of discrimination against Israel’s generally poor Oriental Jews. The announcement was made during one of several speeches by Panther leaders at a rally in Zion Square in Jerusalem. Despite Panther predictions of an “unprecedented demonstration,” only about 250 members showed up and initially there were almost as many television cameramen and newsmen present as Panthers. Steel-helmeted police used batons and water cannon to clear Zion Square after it had been occupied for almost two hours by the Panthers and an audience of about 2,000 curious on-lookers. Most of the demonstrators fled as soon as the hundreds of policemen suddenly emerged on the streets leading to the Square. A handful of Panthers tried to resist but were driven off by batons or water cannon spray and about a half dozen of the demonstrators were arrested in the action which lasted about three minutes, according to a Jewish Telegraphic Agency reporter who observed the demonstration and the police charge. The Panther leader who announced postponement of the scheduled visit to the United States said the delay had been approved to give American Jewish leaders time to “fulfill their promise” to assure low-cost housing for Oriental Jews.

Another reason, he told the crowd, was to provide more time for completion of a research project now underway on problems of poverty in Israel. The sponsorship for the project and identity of the researchers was not indicated. The demonstrators carried placards, some of which displayed a clenched fist salute used by American Black Panthers. Others denounced Premier Golda Meir. One cartoon said “Devaluation Government–Go to Hell.” Another placard theme was “A State Made Up Half of Kings and Half of Slaves Should be Burned Down.” The demonstrators marched down Jaffa Road, Jerusalem’s main street, to the square. They carried three black coffins shoulder-high, one marked “Discrimination.” The demonstration had been licensed by the police who said later that several conditions accepted by the Panthers in applying for the permit were violated. Panther leaders Reuben Abragill, Charlie Bitton and Saadia Marciano denounced the government’s alleged discrimination against Oriental Jews which they compared to the Soviet Union’s treatment of Russian Jews. They declared that Israel’s devaluation of the pound would bring “more suffering” to those Israeli Jews already suffering. They warned that the recent inaction of the Panthers was “the quiet before the storm” and said whatever was being done was inadequate because the “basic problem” was the “feeling” that they were being discriminated against.