Institution of a graduated income tax on Palestine’s 460,000 Jews was approved at a meeting of the Jewish National Council representatives of local councils, it was announced today. The tax was proclaimed last month by Pinchas Rutenberg, newly-elected president of the Council. It ranges from one per cent on in-comes of £10 per month to 20 per cent on more than £100 monthly.
Rutenberg strongly demanded full support to carry out a wide program of reorganization of the Jewish community to cope with the emergency. “The major present problem,” he said, “is liquidation of the shame of 50,000 starving Jews in Palestine.” He recommended reorganization of the social structure on a territorial instead of a party basis and demanded that all groups share the responsibility “in this grave hour.”
Rutenberg announced receipt of a letter from Vladimir Jabotinsky in which the world Zionist-Revisionist leader assured him that he understood the situation and supported the principle of equal rights. Dr. Ephraim Washitz, Palestine Revisionist leader, declared the Revisionists had attended the meeting to demonstrate their willingness to cooperate. David Remez, speaking for the Histadruth (Palestine Jewish labor federation) invited the Revisionists and the Agudath Israel, ultra-religious organization, to return to the Jewish National Council.
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