American Settlers in Israel Hold Convention; Discuss Various Problems

Claims that the Jewish Agency does not give the same financial aid to immigrants from North America as it does to other immigrants were aired and refuted at the opening session today of the eighth annual convention of the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel.

S. Z. Shragai, head of the immigration department of the Jewish Agency, told the 200 delegates and hundreds of guests that the Jewish Agency has “spent much more on aiding immigrants from North America than from any other single country.” He added that “you can quote me as saying that there is not a single case of a North American immigrant not coming because he did not get the help of the Jewish Agency.”

A representative of the Minister of the Interior similarly rebutted a complaint that the Government was making difficulties for “temporary residents.” He said that such a resident could not expect to retain that status permanently. Referring to the many American and Canadian settlers who still held that status, the representative said that “in three years or so a person should decide whether he wishes to become an immigrant or not.”

Reports on the Association’s activities were presented by Carl Alpert, president, and M. Grienfeld, secretary. They said that in its ten years of existence, the Association had served American settlers in various ways and was recognized recently by the Jewish Agency American department as the official branch of that Agency department. They reported that the Association was dealing with problems involving pensions of aged Americans in Israel. The pensions now total half a million dollars a year. They also told the delegates that the association has undertaken a housing program for its members.