The Jewish National Fund of America today marked the fortieth anniversary of the establishment of the Keren Kayemeth by cabling $240,000 to its Palestine headquarters. A resolution pledging the utmost support of American Zionists to the upbuilding and defense of a Jewish Palestine, "the only avowed ally of the United States and its allies in the Middle East," was also adopted at a special meeting of the J.N.F. board of directors and leaders of all Zionist groups in America, held in the Hotel Astor.
Addressing a press luncheon, Dr. Israel Goldstein, president of the Jewish National Fund of America, stated that Jewish Palestine deserves a place of honor among the 26 nations which have, in the Pact of Washington, pledged all their resources to the cause of victory over the Axis powers. "When President Roosevelt, in his message to Congress, stated that American military aid will be made available to every strategic area in the far-flung battlefront, he must have had in mind Palestine too, situated as it is in the Suez Canal Zone," he said. He pointed out that the per capita contribution of the half a million Jews of Palestine, in military manpower, in food supplies and in war industries, is greater than that made by any community any-where.
Speaking of the contrast between the attitude of the Arabs toward the United Nations and that of the Jews in the Near East, Dr. Goldstein stated: "At best the Arabs are neutral, sitting on the fence, waiting to see which side is likely to win the war. To a considerable degree they are pro-Hitler and pro-Mussolini. On the other hand, Palestine Jewry is the only unequivocal, reliable, nay, passionately devoted ally upon whom the United States and England can unreservedly count."
The amount of $240,000 which was cabled to the Jerusalem headquarters of the Jewish National Fund, is the first instalment on the $3,308,000 budget for the 1942 Palestine land acquisition and reclamation program which is being carried out under the slogan "Land for Victory." American Jewry is expected to make available the major part of the required amount.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
