Officials in Premier Menachem Begin’s bureau asserted that he and the government had been acting energetically for a lengthy period now to arrange means of bringing Iranian Jews to Israel. The officials said most of what was being done had to be kept secret for the present. They noted that at the moment, Iranian Jews who wished to do so could leave the country and their distinct implication was that not many were choosing to leave despite Israel’s efforts to avail them of the opportunity and facilities to do so.
The officials strongly denied sharp allegations of neglect and mishandling of the situation made Sunday by leading Labor Party figures, among them former Foreign Minister Yigal Allon. The officials accused Labor of seeking to make “political capital” out of the Iranian situation. Any complaints or comments that Labor had could have been raised more appropriately and more effectively in secret forums, not in public, the officials observed.
Their comments were prompted by charges from Allon of “massive mismanagement” on the part of the government and the Jewish Agency in regard to the Iranian Jewry situation.
Knesseter Uzi Baram scored the government’s “conspiracy of silence” motivated by its desire not to offend the Shah.
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