Agudah Discusses Priorities in Immigration to Israel; Postpones Stand on Jerusalem

The world executive of the Agudas Israel today decided to postpone its position on the future political status of Jerusalem pending a report from a special delegation which it decided to send to Jerusalem to study the situation. The executive began meeting here today; following the conclusion of the all-European conference of the Agudah which concluded last night.

The delegation will consist of Harry Goodman, political secretary of the world organization; Mathieu Muller, president of the French Agudah; Henri Landau, of Belgium; and Dr. M. Rothenburg of Britain.

Landau, who just returned from a trip to Eastern Europe, urged that priority in immigration to Israel be extended to Jews in Eastern Europe as long as emigration from those countries still exists. Agudist representatives from Munich and Belsen expressed the opinion that the DP’s in camps in Germany would agree to the establishment of such priorities. S. Auer?ach, Agudist representative from Tripoli, urged the U.S. and Britain to take firm steps to protect the Jews in Arab countries.

Prior to the closing of the European parley, the delegates decided to launch a fund drive, under the name of Keren Israel, to assist Orthodox Jews to migrate to Israel. They also adopted a resolution expressing concern at the restrictions of the recently adopted U.S. DP immigration law, and called on Britain to permit the Cyprus Internees to proceed to Israel even if permission is conditioned on the DP’s promising not to enter the Israeli Army.

The conference also decided to send a delegation to Jewish communities in Arab countries to assist them in any possible war. The delegates called on all major Jewish organizations to meet and consult on outstanding Jewish problems prior to the opening of the U.N. General Assembly session, next month.