Speeches, etc.

Margaret Thatcher

Speech to Anglo-Israel Friendship League rally

Document type: Speeches, interviews, etc.
Venue: Moss Hall School, West Finchley
Source: Finchley Press, 23 June 1967
Editorial comments: 2000.
Importance ranking: Minor
Word count: 467
Themes: Foreign policy (International organizations), Foreign policy (Middle East)

United support for Israel

M.P. Urges Tolerance

A rally organised by the Anglo-Israel Friendship League of Finchley at Moss Hall School, on Tuesday raised four hundred pounds towards medical aid for the Red Star of David—the Israeli Red Cross.

It was a spirited meeting with a large audience of Christians and Jews and a platform which was shared by the three political parties, a Minister, Rabbi and Priest.

Chairman for the evening was the Rev. R. More O'Ferrall who took over from Mrs. Queenie Weber, who is unwell.

The first speaker was Mrs. Margaret Thatcher MP and stressing that she was speaking personally, she criticised U Thant 's hasty withdrawal from the Middle East and went on to give her whole-hearted support to Israel and her cause.

Speaking of it as an almost unbelievable victory, Mrs. Thatcher stressed that Israel now had enormous practical problems to overcome and tolerance and wisdom would be needed.

Amid loud applause she declared, “I believe that Israel should not withdraw from her new territories until she has her borders guaranteed. You cannot ask a nation to withdraw from the only bargaining point she has.”

On behalf of the Jews, Rabbi Gelles of the Kinloss Synagogue spoke of the wonderful upsurge of sympathy and solidarity which had come during the crisis. This, he said made Jews feel very humble.

Looking forward to peace in the Middle East he concluded: “This crisis may have been the milestone in an era when the world will become a united family of united nations.”

An eye-witness account of the war was then given by Mr. Felix Gordon, who had just returned from fighting with the Israeli troops. He described the people as confident but sober. “They are not cocky, or arrogant” , he said.

He had been proud to fight with them and his purpose in attending the meeting had been to pass on a message he received from General Dayan: “Tell everyone at home in England to come here and see us.”

Continuing the theme of the evening, Councillor A. Tomlinson and Mr. Leonard Smith spoke on behalf of the Labour and Liberal parties, and the Rev. V. J. Abernethy, minister of St. Margaret's Church, Church End, hoped that the Arabs and Jews would one day become friends as, after a long history of war, France and Germany had.

Councillor Frank Gibson, secretary of the Friendship League then urged the audience to donate generously to the cause and as cheques and cash poured in Miss Pamela Fitton, who leaves for Israel today (Friday) ended the speeches.