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Details of Projected Jewish Agency Status in Israel Reported

March 26, 1952
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The text of the projected status of the Jewish Agency in Israel, to be presented by Premier David Ben Gurion first to the Israel Cabinet and later to the Parliament, was revealed at a press conference here today by S. Levenberg, representative of the Agency in England. It contains the following clauses:

1. The State of Israel represents the state only, but regards itself as the creation of the whole Jewish people and its doors are open to every Jew wishing to enter the country.

2. The World Zionist Organization, sometimes with the participation of other Jewish bodies, for two generations headed the work of the Jewish people for the laying of the foundations of the Jewish State.

3. The State of Israel recognizes the World Zionist Organization–the Jewish Agency–as a competent agency which will continue to work for the development of the Jewish State, for the absorption of immigrants in Israel and for the coordination of the work of Jewish bodies in these spheres of action.

4. The ingathering of exiles, which is the chief task of the Zionist Organization and of the State of Israel these days, makes it imperative for all sections of the Jewish people to continue this work. The State of Israel expects them to continue to support the ingathering of exiles. It also considers it necessary that all Jewish communities unite for the achievement of this aim.

5. The World Zionist Organization will make every effort to bring about the unification of those Jewish bodies who will undertake obligations arising out of such work.

6. When the World Zionist Organization shall be enlarged, with the consent of the Jewish Agency, the W.Z.O. will act in place of the Zionist executive.

7. Details of the status and work of the World Zionist Organization in Israel will be fixed in agreement between the W.Z.O. and the State of Israel. A committee will be established to coordinate the work in the spheres of action which are within the competence of the World Zionist executive.

In outlining the main points of the projected status, Mr. Levenberg said if these points are accepted, the question of an enlarged Jewish Agency might become an acute issue. The problem of how the non-Zionists should be elected to the enlarged agency especially will provoke much discussion, he declared.

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