The representatives of more than 500 settlements in Israel opened their eighth agricultural convention at Rehovoth last night, in the presence of Premier-designate David Ben Gurion and Speaker of the Knesset Joseph Sprinzak. The parley will last three days.
Abraham Harzfeld, one of the “fathers” of Israel’s settlement movement, in the opening address, reported that 337 agricultural settlements had been founded in Israel since the state was established, bringing the total number to 585, The farm population of Israel has more than doubled in the period of statehood, increasing from 75,000 to 155,000. Agricultural output has jumped 125 percent in the past six years, with food crops showing increases of 20 to 60 percent.
Among the delegates at the convention were 291 representing Mapai settlements, 84 Mapam, 81 Achdut Avodah, 21 Haoved Hatzioni, 13 Communist and seven representing the religious agricultural workers movement.
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