Fewer new books and second editions were published in Israel in 1971 than in 1970. But Israel still ranks higher than Holland, Sweden, England, West Germany and France in the number of first and second editions published per 100,000 population, according to figures released today by the Central Bureau of Statistics.
Last year saw the publication of 1889 first and second editions in Israel compared to 2072 in 1970. But re-prints numbered 1449 against 1022 the year before. Altogether, nine million copies of all books were printed last year, 600,000 more than in 1970. Re-prints increased while first and second editions declined by about 400,000.
The number of copies per book declined slightly, from 3100 printed in 1970 to 2900 in 1971. The major subjects were Judaism, political science, childrens books and textbooks. Less popular were books on the natural sciences, medicine, economics, engineering, technology and the classics.
Jewish sources said today that a Jewish activist in Kharkov, Yuri Brind, has been incarcerated in a mental institution as harassment for seeking to go to Israel. The sources in New York said Brind was taken “by force” on March 24 to the asylum. On April 3 he launched a hunger strike. The sources reported Brind as saying: “I have not committed any crime, and I ask to be helped to get out of this hell.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
