The sum of $2,500,000 will be needed for “Operation Open Seasame” to bring to Israel by air more than 50,000 Iraqi Jews during the next 12 months, Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, director-general of the Joint Distribution Committee, said here this week-end at a press conference. Dr. Schwartz has just returned from a visit to Israel and Iran.
The cost of the operation, he added, has been increased by the Iraqi ruling that the emigrants must stop in a “neutral country” before the planes can bring the Jews to Israel. This necessitates the transports flying first to Cyprus, making a landing there and then proceeding to Lydda airport in Israel. The cost of bringing each immigrant to Israel is thus increased by $15 per passenger, he explained. Each immigrant is allowed to take with him approximately 65 pounds of luggage and 50 dinars in cash.
Dr. Schwartz said the evacuation of the Jews will proceed at a rate of approximately 5,000 Jews monthly. The imaigrants, he said, will be cared for upon their arrival in the Jewish state by the Jewish Agency and the Israel Government. “Hard core” cases, he added, will be handled by “Malben”–the special body set up by the J.D.C., Israel Government and Jewish Agency to provide care for all “hard core” immigrants reaching Israel.
Replying to questions, the J.D.C. leader asserted that Jordan has agreed to allow the planes carrying Israel-bound Jews from Iraq to fly over her territory. He appealed to Jews in the United States and throughout the world to help the J.D.C. “accomplish this great and unforeseen task.”
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