Description:

Israeli Archive

Shimon Peres, Eliahu Elath, Jacob Tsur, Israel Sieff and Nahum Goldmann write to leftist British journalist Jon Kimche, editor of the “Jewish Observer” 


Jon Kimche (1909-1994), a Swiss Jew, came to England with his family in 1921 and became involved with the socialist Independent Labour Party. The ILP was affiliated with Britain’s Labour Party. He became head of the ILP Guild of Youth in the 1930s. In the early years of World War II, Kimche contributed articles on military strategy to London’s daily paper, the “Evening Standard.” In the 1940s, he worked at the socialist weekly “Tribune.” By 1946, his primary interest lay in the creation of a Jewish state in Palestine. From 1946-1948, he was co-editor of the “Tribune” but was fired after disappearing from the office in December 1947 to Istanbul to negotiate safe passage with Turkish authorities for two ships sailing from Bulgaria with thousands of Jews aboard bound for Palestine. He was editor of the “Jewish Observer and Middle East Review” in London for 15 years and was Middle East correspondent of the “Evening Standard” until 1973. He later edited the monthly “The New Middle East.” Kimche’s books include “Seven Fallen Pillars: The Middle East, 1915-1950” (1950), “Spying for Peace: General Guisan and Swiss Neutrality” (1962), “The Unfought Battle” (1968), “The Second Arab Awakening” (1970), and “Palestine or Israel” (1970).



All letters are in English to Jon Kimche, Editor of the “Jewish Observer” in London. Staple holes in upper left of most pages. In mostly fine condition; many are probably unpublished. Comprises:



(1) Shimon Peres (born 1923; Prime Minister, 1977, 1984-1986, 1995-1996; President since 1997). Rare Autograph Letter Signed “Shimon” on both sides of his 5” x 4” personal card, December 22, 1965. Staple holes in upper left. Peres, a member of the Knesset since 1959, had served as Deputy Minister of Defence from 1959 until May 25, 1965. Levi Eshkol had been both Prime Minister and Minister of Defence since 1963. In part, “Here we are at dead political season, sick government and an empty purse. We shall overcome it. I am more worried about the future. I am afraid that some people with a drugstore mentality, may run the country for a long time. People are charmed by prosperity, if not the national one, at least the personal standard of living, which is high. Otherwise they care very little, for the time being…”



(2) Shimon Peres. Typed Letter Signed “Shimon Peres” as Deputy Minister of Defence,, one page, 8.5” x 11”. Tel-Aviv, January 17, 1963. In part, “I am sending you herewith a memorandum with a few critical remarks on the “Jewish Observer”’s approach to the problem of Russian Jews and to Russia herself…” The unsigned Typed Memorandum, two pages, 8.5” x 11”, separate sheets originally stapled to Peres’ letter in present. It begins, “The ‘Jewish Observer’ has recently published a few things about Israel’s attitude towards the Soviet Union, that are prejudicial to Israeli and Jewish interests…”



(3) Jacob Tsur (born 1937; Member of the Knesset from 1981-1992; Minister of Immigrant Absorption from 1984-1988, Minister of Health from 1988-1990, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from 1992-1996). Early Typed Letter Signed “J. Tsur”, one page, 8.5” x 11”. Jerusalem, January 12, 1966. In part, “I just received the last issue of the ‘Jewish Observer’ containing, among other articles an appreciation of Golda Meir’s tenure as Foreign Minister of Israel … I do not share your views on the trends of Israel’s foreign policy during the period described…” Unsigned carbon of Kimche’s January 26, 1966 reply is stapled to it at upper left.



(4) Eliahu Elath (1903-1990; first Israeli Ambassador to the United States, 1948-1950; Ambassador to the United Kingdom, 1950-1959). Typed Letter Signed “Eliahu as Israeli Ambassador to the United Kingdom, one page, 8” x 10”. London, June 24, 1958. In part, “I saw a reference in the last issue of the Observer to a book by Dr. Zeine on Arab nationalism. Do you think I could borrow it? I know Zeine well personally from the time we studied together in Beirut. He is a Bah’ai and a liberal-minded man…” Unsigned carbon of Kimche’s June 26, 1966 reply is pinned to it at upper left.



(5) Israel M. Sieff (1889-1972; British businessman, endowed the 1934 creation by Chaim Weizmann of the Daniel Sieff Research Institute in Rehovot, renamed the Weizmann Institute in 1949; created Baron Sieff in 1966). Typed Letter Signed “Israel M. Sieff,” one page, 7” x 9”. London, January 28, 1959. In full, “I send you extracts from a letter I have received from Nahum Goldman. I would like to discuss this with you when we meet tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon, because it is desireable that the inference that the Jewish Agency, or any Israeli organisation – Governmental or otherwise – is incompetent to deal with immigration has got to be scotched right away.” Two page typed “Excerpts from Dr. Nahum Goldman’s letter to Mr. Israel Sieff,” Amsterdam, January 25, 1959, is present. Unsigned carbon of Kimche’s January 29. 1959 reply to Sieff is present, enclosing “a translation of a front page story in Tuesday’s Ma’ariv…” which is also present.



(6) Israel M. Sieff. Typed Letter Signed “Israel,” one page, 7” x 9”. London, February 9, 1959. In full, “Thank you for sending me a copy of your letter to Nahum. I hope it will have the desired effect.” Unsigned 2.5 page unsigned copy of Kimche’s letter to Nahum Goldman is present.



(7) Nahum Goldmann (1895-1982; leading Zionist; founder and President of the World Jewish Congress from1948-1977). Typed Letter Signed “Nahum,” one page, 8.25” x 11”. New York, March 4, 1959. On lightweight stationery of “The Jewish Agency for Israel.” Frayed at lower right edge and bottom edge. In part, “I received your letter of January 6th. In the meantime, I had several discussions with Israel Sieff who agrees with me about what I am proposing to you. I don’t want to go into the past. You have, on several occasions been, to put it mildly, careless in reporting. I am sure that you have enough good taste to admit that … My suggestion to you and to Sieff is that an assistant editor be engaged who will deal with Zionist and Jewish problems … Permit me to tell you in all frankness that on internal Zionist and Jewish problems you have not manifested the same understanding and insight which characterizes you when you write about Middle East problems…”


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