Levi Eshkol, Israel’s Finance Minister, told the 100-member United Jewish Appeal delegation today that the main problem confronting Israel was the shortage of housing.
Declaring that maximum efforts must be concentrated on meeting this shortage, the Finance Minister said “we shall build no more maabarot which eventually cost double the price of permanent housing. “Conditions in the remaining transit centers reportedly made a profound impression on the delegates.
Admitting that taxation in Israel “is a little too heavy,” Eshkol said there was “no other way out. “Adding that the United Jewish Appeal has done a “magnificent” Job, he said it was still not enough “for what needs to be done.”
The UJA delegates visited the Ben Shemen Youth Village near Ramleh as guests of Youth Aliyah and heard reports on Youth Aliyah programs of integration and education of children and youth newcomers. The delegates will tour the Negev tomorrow.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
