Jews from liberated territories are excluded from Palestine as a result of the decision of the British Government not to admit any Jewish immigrants except those coming from enemy-occupied countries, it was revealed here today by Moshe Shertok, head of the political department of the Jewish Agency addressing a press conference.
Shertok criticized the British Government for this decision. Since a large-scale escape from enemy territories is not certain, the policy of the British Government only slows down the distribution of the 14,000 immigration certificates still available under the White Paper, Shertok pointed out adding that this inflicts unnecessary suffering.
“There has been no relaxation in efforts to bring endangered Jews to Palestine.” Shertok declared. “But with Hungary isolated and the Balkan countries in the midst of political transition, further escapes of Jews are most problematic.” The present stoppage of Jewish immigration even in advance of the white Paper limits makes impossible further transports of Jews from Italy and Aden where 1,500 distressed Yemenite Jews are on their way to Palestine,” he added.
Shertok also stressed the indignities and hardships suffered by 1,500 Jews who are held on the Island of Mauritius. He revealed that only five thousand Jews from enemy countries were able to reach Palestine since September 1943. Eliahu Dobkin, head of the immigration department of the Jewish Agency addressed the conference, also taking issue with the British policy.
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.
