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Ben-Gurion and the exploitation of anti-Semitism in favor of Zionism; criticism of democracy

TNA
WO 169/4334


In Jerusalem on October 4, 1942 Ben-Gurion told Jewish Agency leaders that although Hitler had made Jews suffer, he also

revive[d] in assimilated Jews the feeling of Jewish nationalism,
[and] we have exploited this feeling in favor of Zionism.

Democracy, however, threatened to undo it. Jewish nationalism is
slowly disappearing again because the democracies, in
contrast to the dictator states,

recognize the Jews as people having full rights of citizenship... [and so] in America
there now exists a strong movement away from Zionism.


Fully 85% of America’s Jewry, he warned, were “assimilationists,” a
setback he blamed again on America’s “democratic attitude.” Another Agency speaker agreed, condemning the democratic countries and their Atlantic Charter as enemies of Jewry. Ben-Gurion then moved to oust any Agency
members with diverging views, in particular anyone who voted with the socialist Hashomer Hatzair and their acknowledgment
of Palestinian national rights.


See State of Terror, 77

 

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