Israel Bonds’ Gala Dividend

From the crush at the door, it could have been the lineup for a jumbo jet to Israel. From some of the more revealing bathing suits that followed dinner, it could have been a scene from an Israeli beach.

But it was the Beverly Hilton on Monday night as the “Flight of Fantasy” with the Women’s Division of Israel Bonds celebrated the 40th anniversary of Israel’s statehood. Co-chairs Barbara Belzberg and Linda Rosenberg had signed up Robinson’s, which put together a splashy fashion show featuring the best of that department store plus the best of Israeli designers. Keeping with the Israeli theme, the fabulous appetizers included pita bread, humus, tabbouleh and olives.

Women who had bought $1,000 or more in Israel Bonds were entitled to pay $75 and come to the dinner--and, for another minimum $1,000, they could even bring a date. The evening brought in close to $1.75 million, according to the Israel Bonds office.

While the band played “Mr. Wonderful,” Robinson’s President and CEO Robert Mettler took the thank-yous from the chairwomen, who presented him with the City of Peace Award.

Susan Weikers, the chairwoman of the National Women’s Division of Israel Bonds, told the audience that it was important now, with the unrest in the occupied territories, for American Jews to show strong support for Israel. “Every Jew who is living in Israel and in the Diaspora is free because of Israel.”

ONLY IN L.A.--When the pretty Bonnie Parker (wife of TV’s Jameson Parker) was broadsided last week on her way home through Hollywood, the air bag in her massive Mercedes is what apparently saved her from critical injuries. The impact was so great that the stones in her ring flew out of the setting. Believe it or not, bystanders who rushed to help her then searched the back of the car and found the stones--and turned them over to Bonnie by the time her actor husband, who was following her from the studio, showed up at the intersection. Nice going, L.A.

GOOD, BETTER, BEST--That’s the word on the Starlight Foundation party on Feb. 19. It honors Barry Manilow, who receives the Humanitarian Award. Bette Midler performs. Dionne Warwick performs. Carole Bayer Sager and Burt Bacharach perform. Elizabeth Taylor does the presenting honors. It’s all at the Century Plaza and what a great cause, as the Starlight Foundation celebrates its fifth anniversary of granting wishes to chronically, critically and terminally ill children. . . .

Tuesday, the Four Seasons’ Robert and Beverly Cohen receive the Yehuda Halevi Award from Vidal Sassoon. The occasion is the 1988 Scholarship Banquet at the Beverly Hilton benefiting the Sephardic Hebrew Academy. The banquet chairs are Morris and Alice Angel and Max and Lillian Candiotty. Tony Bennett does the special performing honors.