Status of Jewish Agency in U.S. Outlined; Activities Cited

Full details on the status of the Jewish Agency in the United States were given today in a statement by Gottlieb Hammer, the Agency’s executive director, published in the New York Times. Taking issue with the American Council for Judaism, which adopted a resolution stating that the Jewish Agency was registered as an agent of the Israel Government, Mr. Hammer said:

“The Jewish Agency in this country is registered as a branch of the Jewish Agency for Palestine in Jerusalem, a non-governmental humanitarian organization. The registration of the Jewish Agency for Palestine with the Department of Justice is a matter of record. Nowhere does that registration state or imply that the Jewish Agency for Palestine is — nor is it in fact — an agent or spokesman for the Israeli Government.

“The Jewish Agency’s status was recognized in Article IV of the British Palestine Mandate which stated that ‘a proper Jewish agency shall assist and take part in the development of Palestine and ‘secure the cooperation of all Jews who are willing to assist in the establishment of the Jewish national home.’

“Since the establishment of Israel, Article IV of the Mandate which set forth the relationship of the British mandatory and the Jewish Agency for Palestine has been replaced by the Israel Parliament’s Bill on Status under which the Jewish Agency for Palestine is to ‘continue to work in the State of Israel for the development and the colonization of the country, for the absorption of immigrants from the Diaspora and for the coordination of the activities in Israel of Jewish institutions and associations operating in these fields.’

“The funds contributed by the United Jewish Appeal have been employed solely toward these ends–relief and rehabilitation of refugees, immigrants, immigrant-absorption and colonization, medical and health program, and educational projects. The main purpose and objective of this work has been to assist the people of Israel, and not the Government. The Jewish Agency conducts its activities in consultation with the Government of Israel, just as all voluntary aid organizations of a similar nature conduct their activities in consultation with the Governments of the countries in which their operations center.”