Resolutions calling for the establishment of a joint committee representing the Jewish Agency and the Israel Government to achieve effective cooperation between the two in immigration and colonization activities in Israel were adopted unanimously here this week-end at the concluding session of the Zionist Actions Committee, supreme policy-making body of the Zionist movement between world congresses.
The resolutions asked that all activities in these fields be carried out on the basis of joint planning and coordinated budgeting, as outlined in agreements reached between the two. In effect these resolutions provide for the establishment of an overall development authority to deal with the problem of immigrants, as outlined last week by Premier David Ben Gurion.
Another resolution demanded that the Agency be accorded a recognized standing in Israel in relation to its work. Instructing the Agency executive to enter into negotiations with the government to achieve this, the Actions Committee resolution called on the government to give the Agency a monopoly on approving and coordinating all welfare projects in Israel sponsored by Jewish organizations from abroad.
In justifying the demand for exclusive Agency status vis-a-vis the Israel Government, the Actions Committee said that this was most desirable from the point of view of fund-raising as well as for the general effectiveness of its work in Israel.
VOTE INCREASE OF AGENCY BUDGET TO $140,000,000
A resolution on financial matters called for increasing the Jewish Agency’s budget {SPAN}##,000,000 pounds to 50,000,000 ($140,000,000). However, it was decided to raise the extra sum by loans. The Actions Committee also said that it considers necessary the floating of a national loan to finance immigration, but asked that this be accomplished in such a manner as not to interfere with the present fund-raising activities of Zionist bodies. It requested the Agency to draft plans for floating such a loan.{/SPAN}It was also decided to set up a committee–consisting of representatives of the Agency, the Jewish National Fund, the Keren Hayesod and all political parties represented in the Actions Committee–to study the future work and administration of the various Zionist appeals. This committee was instructed to report to the next session of the actions body, which will be convened here on the eve of the 23rd World Zionist Congress, at the end of December.
The Actions Committee defined the outstanding major tasks of the Zionist movement at this point in history as: mobilization of the Jews of the world in support of Israel and the consolidation of ties between the Jews abroad and Israel; encouragement of immigration to Israel and the raising of the means of promoting this migration movement; and, stimulation of worldwide interest in pioneering in Israel, as well as the Zionist education of Jewish youth throughout the world.
A resolution on immigration pointed out that Israel’s doors are open to the Jews of the world. Another resolution praised the Israel Government’s activities in behalf of absorption of immigrants, adding that the major task still facing the government is the transfer of persons in immigration camps to productive work within the Israel community. The Jews of the world were also asked to support the Amidar Corporation, the Agency-sponsored housing corporation which is constructing homes for new immigrants in the Jewish state. The united fund-raising campaigns in North and South America and in South Africa were singled out for special praise by the delegates.
DR. GOLDMANN SAYS SESSION PROVED MORE SATISFACTORY THAN EXPECTED
Commenting on the results of the ten-day session, Dr. Nahum Goldmann, chairman of the American section of the Agency, today declared: “The Actions Committee session was much more satisfactory than many expected. There was wide agreement on fundamentals and the position taken by Ben Gurion. All previous rumors about serious differences between Ben Gurion and the Zionist leaders proved baseless. That the main resolution on the Zionist organization’s work in Israel was accepted practically unanimously indicated a fundamental agreement which characterized the Actions Committee deliberations.
“I fully believe that the Israel Government desires that the Zionist organization continue to be an active element in the upbuilding of the country and that the new development authority will do away with many misunderstandings and lack of cooperation, and will lay the foundation for close cooperation between the government and the Zionist executive.
“The Actions Committee decisions will lead the movement to a new era of self-confidence based on the conviction that it has great tasks in the new period, and mark the beginning of the revival of the Zionist movement as a decisive factor in the upbuilding of the state of Israel.”
Speaking on behalf of the representatives of the Zionist Organization of America who attended the parley, Dr. Samuel Margoshes stated that the delegation was “pleased with the results” of the conference. Haim Greenberg, American Labor Zionist leader, said that the parloy was most heartening because it demonstrated that “both sides have the goodwill and understanding for the great tasks facing the state and the movement.”
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