An urgent meeting of the Jewish Agency opened here today to discuss the proposal advanced by Premier David Ben Gurion yesterday at the Zionist Actions Committee session urging the establishment of a “partnership” between the Agency and the Israel Government in dealing with immigration in the Jewish state.
The plan suggested by Mr. Ben Gurion provides that a development authority with supreme jurisdiction over immigration and settlement matters be established under the chairmanship of the Israel Premier. One-half of the membership of this body would be officials of the government, while the remainder would be representatives of the Agency.
The plan stipulates that the new body would discuss and approve all plans concerning immigration into Israel, and the absorption of the immigrants in Israel. The authority would also have the right to discuss and approve plans concerning the development of Israel, as well as the budgets of the Agency and of the government on matters pertaining specially to immigration and colonization.
AGENCY MEMBERS CONSIDER PARTNERSHIP PLAN DETRIMENTAL TO ZIONIST MOVEMENT
A number of members of the Agency today expressed their dissatisfaction with the proposal made by Premier Ben Gurion. “Despite the fact that an agreement of this kind would allegedly mean cooperation between the government and the Agency it actually spells the liquidation of the Zionist movement,” a leading member of the Agency said.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the American section of the Agency, addressing the Zionist Actions Committee last night, said that any resolution adopted by the Actions Committee is worthless if the government does not endorse it wholeheartedly. “What both the Zionist movement and the government need is goodwill, then all discrepancies will disappear,” he said.
Dr. Goldmann also touched on the problem of heirless Jewish property in Austria and Germany. He suggested that a commercial arrangement be accepted under which Israel will be able to get on a transfer basis the heirless property from Germany and Austria for the upbuilding of the Jewish state.
Berl Locker, chairman of the Agency, told the Actions Committee that if the Agency had enough money to carry out its full program of immigration and settlement without being compelled to seek the assistance of the Israel Government, there would have been no room for dispute. He placed responsibility on the world Zionist movement for the failure of Jews throughout the world to increase their support for immigration and absorption work in Israel.
Mendel Fisher, executive director of the Jewish National Fund of America, took issue with Golda Myerson, member of the Israel Cabinet, who said that she would trust non-Zionists to share in the responsibility for the welfare of the Jewish state. He pointed out the need for a strong Zionist organization as the best instrument for the promotion of the interests of the Jewish state in countries outside of Israel. He also called for a better understanding of American Jewry and its contributions to the Jewish state.
Mortimer May, Zionist Organization of America delegate, asked the Israel Government to clarify its basic policy because, he said, many Jews abroad are worried about Premier Ben Gurion’s policy of “socialism in our time.”
Meir Grossman, member of the Agency executive, defended the demand that the Israel Government grant the World Zionist Organization a charter. Such a charter, he said, would be of benefit not only to the Jewish state but would bring about closer cooperation between world Jewry and Israel.
Rabbi Max Kirshblum, American Mizrachi member of the Zionist Actions Committee, defended the existence of the various Zionist groups in countries outside of Israel. He repudiated reports in Israel that every Jew abroad considers himself an Israel citizen.
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.
