Israel Labor Minister Opposes Immigration Curtailment; Says Jewish Lives Are in Danger

A warning that temporary curtailment of Jewish immigration to Israel “may endanger the lives of tens of thousands of Jews now streaming to the Jewish state” was voiced today by Golda Myerson, Israel Minister of Labor, prior to her leaving by plane for Israel. She was referring to suggestions from some quarters that immigration to the Jewish state be halted temporarily because of lack of funds.

(The New York Times today reported from Jerusalem that two leaders of the United Jewish Appeal–Julian Venezky and Samuel Rothberg–who are now visiting Israel have urged the curtailment of immigration for six months “to give fund-raising a chance to catch up.” They warned that if Israel continues her present immigration rate, ignoring financial realities, the whole thing will “blow up in their faces,” the report said.)

Emphasizing that “Jewish immigration is synonymous with the Jewish state,” Mrs. Myerson said: “No one of us wishes to live in a state that must close its doors to any Jew who needs a home. The acceptance of the Jews of Rumania and other countries is the fulfilment of the destiny which brought the state of Israel into being.” She pointed out that the present situation required an enlargement of the partnership between American Jews and the people of Israel through the channel of the United Jewish Appeal to make increased funds available for what she termed “rescue immigration.”