Almogi Predicts There Will Be No Increase in Aliya Next Year

Yosef Almogi, chairman of the World Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency Executives, predicted yesterday that there would be no increase in immigration to Israel in 1977 and blamed the present system of “shlichim” (emissaries) which he said had failed. He said that the Zionist Federations in the various countries must become more active in aliya and not leave it exclusively to emissaries from Israel.

Almogi made his remarks during a two-hour meeting of the joint coordinating committee of the government and Jewish Agency headed by Premier Yitzhak Rabin. The meeting was attended by most Cabinet ministers and members of the WZO Executive.

CONCERNED ABOUT ARGENTINA

Almogi reported at length on his recent visit to Latin America. He reported that after an investigation of the activities of Zionist emissaries in Argentina, Zionist activities were not banned in that country. He was referring to the release of five WZO emissaries and three local employes of the WZO who were arrested in Argentina July 22 and released Aug. 4.

However, Almogi expressed serious concern over what he described as open anti-Semitism in Argentina, noting that one could buy Nazi publications in any book shop. He described the situation of Jews in South America generally, observing that unstable conditions in various countries abroad did not guarantee a rise in the number of immigrants coming to Israel. Shlichim System Not Successful proven successful. He said that on his coming visits to the U.S. and South Africa he would meet with the heads of Zionist Federations to discuss means of increasing their involvement in aliya.

Rabin said he would like to see more government ministers involved in aliya. Menachem Sherman, director general of the Absorption Ministry and Uzi Narkiss, head of the Jewish Agency’s aliya department, were instructed at the meeting to prepare background material for a future meeting of the coordinating body that would sum up the discussion of aliya.