$10,000,000 Invested in Palestine Industries Lay Foundation for Further Development

(Jewish Telegraphic Agency)

Ten million dollars are invested in Jewish industries in Palestine, according to figures made known by the Trade and Industry Department of the Zionist Executive in Jerusalem. The figures are based on data up to July, 1925.

In the past two years investments by the Jews in Palestine manufacturing industries, most of them connected with the building industry, have doubled, while over five thousand workmen are employed in these various industries, most of which have been established within the past year, the high point in Jewish immigration.

Jews of the United States have been prominent in Palestine’s new industrial life, the report of the Trade and Industry Department states. They have been the chief contributors to the Palestine Foundation Fund and other Zionist financial agencies which have stimulated business conditions and paved the way for many new industrial undertakings through their colonization program, the mortgage loans and other credits advances to the building trades, workmen’s cooperative organizations and other industrial groups.

The two principal industrial projects are the Ruttenberg Concession, supplying electric light and power to Palestine cities, and the Nesher Cement Factory in Haifa in which European Jews have invested $1,000,000. American Jews are among the heaviest investors in the Ruttenberg project through their contributions to the Palestine Foundation Fund. Another important American contribution to the industrial development of Palestine is the silicate factory at Tel-Aviv, which was established by a group of New Jersey Jews.

The influx of over 35,000 Jews to Palestine during the last year has made the manufacture of building materials for city and rural development the leading industry, with almost $2,500,000 invested. Almost $2,000,000 has been invested in the manufacture of foodstuffs, $1,700,000 in chemical products and $700,000 in textiles. Other new business undertakings include leather, furniture, printing, paper and metal companies.

The decision of the mandatory power to construct a modern harbor at the ancient port of Haifa, at a cost of around $25,000,000 will make Haifa the principal industrial center of Palestine, the Department predicts.

COMMUNICATION TO THE EDITOR

Sir:

In your “Bulletin” of Jan. 19, 1926, you reprint portions of editorials that appeared in the “Forward” and the “Day,” wherein it is charged in the first paper that a number of Congressmen of Jewish faith, are introducing immigration measures for the relief of divided families, with no desire to press them for passage, and are doing this only for publicity sake, and that there is a general feeling of discord among these Congressmen on their bills.

I urge that you publish to your readers the fact, that I have not introduced any such bills, and that I am squarely behind Congressman Perlman’s Bill, and as proof thereof, appeared at Carnegie Hall recently, advocating its passage.

Yours very truly,

EMANUEL CELLER, M.C.,

10th Congressional District.

Brooklyn, New York.

The General Executive Committee of the Independent Order B’nai B’rith, at its recent meeting in Cincinnati, adopted a resolution in support of the Ort and its work of reconstruction in Eastern and Central Europe. The resolution read:

“Resolved, That the Executive Committee express our belief that Ort is doing a work which will not only reflect credit on the Jewish people, but which will ultimately ameliorate the condition of our brethren, and be it further resolved that we give our hearty endorsement to the Ort Program.”

The needs of the Ort were further commended to the favorable attention of the various lodges and affiliates of the I. O. B. B.