Vietnam, the moment ‘is particularly propitious to unleash revolutionary struggles in other continents and other parts of the world."
ISRAELI YOUTH DEMAND U.S. WITHDRAW TROOPS FROM VIETNAM ©
Tel-Aviv
More than 1,000 youth participated in a meeting and demonstration protesting American intervention in Vietnam that took place here April 14 under sponsorship of the youth section of the Mapam [United Workers party], a left-wing Socialist party.
Dizengoff Square, located in one of the busiest sections of the main city of Israel, was filled with young demonstrators, some
of them from distant Kibbutzim [collective settlements]. They carried placards in Hebrew and English demanding the withdrawal of American troops from Vietnam, accusing the United States of genocide, and demanding the right of self- determination for the Vietnamese people.
‘The speeches delivered at the meeting were in the same vein. The speakers reminded their young listeners that the Israeli youth belonged to a people who were exterminated by the Nazis during World War II, and as such should protest the mass murder conducted by, the American troops in Vietnam and their use of poison gas.
The speakers also warned against sending a proposed delega- .. tion of Israeli journalists to Vietnam at the invitation of the American army. They declared théy supported the current stand of the Israeli government not to become involved in anything. that could be interpreted as backing American intervention in Vietnan.
At the end of the meeting, the participants: marched down the streets to the American embassy. However they were’ met. by. police who had been mobilized to keep them from approaching the building. The demonstrators shouted anti-American slogans and sang antiwar and freedom songs.
On their way back to ‘the point of dispersal, they passed the plush Dan hotel. Some American tourists standing on the steps greeted them in a friendly way with thumbs up.
A strong police force was deployed at the meeting and along the line of march. They charged a sector of the demonstrators in © the square with their batons and arrested five of them. Those arrested were released later that evening.
- Protest resolutions adopted at the meeting were forwarded to the American ambassador.
The Mapam Central Committee - adopted a resolution April 20 condemning the role of U.S. imperialism in Vietnam. The resolution demanded an immediate cessation of hostilities in Vietnam, an end to the American intervention and letting the Vietnamese. people: decide their political future without any outside pressure.
The resolution also called on the Israeli government to abstain from anything that could be interpreted as assistance or aid, in any way whatsoever, to either side in the bloody struggle in Vietnam.
The last part of the resolution, concerning "both" sides, reflects the pressure of the right wing in the Mapam leadership who. are participating in a.coalition government under the premiership of Levi Eshkol of the Mapai (Social- Democratic party).
This.,part of the-resolution: is completely out of tune with the spirit. permeating the. resolutions adopted at the demonstration ,
organized by the Mapam's youth section, the overwhelming majority of ©. which was and is against Mapam ' s participating in the coalition government. The youth section's fortnightly paper Chotam frequently expresses this view.
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