Dulzin Says He Intends to Work for Abolition of Absorption Ministry

The long standing struggle between the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Absorption for control of Israel’s immigration and immigrant-absorption machinery surfaced again yesterday when Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization Executives treasurer, Leon Dulzin reaffirmed his intention to work for abolition of the ministry.

The latest dispute centered around Absorption Minister David Levy’s trip to North America with a package of proposed special concessions to induce Israelis who have settled in the United States and Canada to return home. Levy’s mission apparently was less than successful and he has reportedly cut his trip short.

Dulzin, who is virtually certain to be elected chairman of the Jewish Agency and WZO at the 29th World Zionist Congress here next month, told reporters yesterday, “If David Levy had consulted me, I would have advised him not to go” to America. He denied an allegation by Levy, in a Maariv interview published yesterday that WZO emissaries in the U.S. had jeopardized his mission. “The opposite is true. Our emissaries were instructed to assist Levy wherever they could,” Dulzin said.

Dulzin said he was not opposed to government ministers going abroad to try to stimulate aliya but insisted that the return of Israelis living abroad should be the exclusive responsibility of the WZO.

Levy announced shortly after he was named to his Cabinet post by Premier Menachem Begin last June that the return of Israeli expatriates (yordim) would be one of his ministry’s main tasks. He proceeded to deal with the problem over the objections of the WZO which had established a body of its own to deal with the issue. A similar body was formed by the Knesset.

But earlier this month, Levy announced a program of benefits for Israelis who have lived abroad longer than three years and decide to return. It included various material inducements such as tax exemption on consumer goods. Before discussing the plan with the WZO or the Treasury, Levy left for North America. He outlined his plan at a meeting with a group of Israelis in New York last week, but, reportedly with disappointing results. The Israelis were said to have told Levy that they were more interested in the quality of life than in material benefits.

HOREV COMMITTEE POINTS NOTED

Dulzin did not go into details of the controversy. He claimed, however, that not only Levy but all previous Absorption Ministers had “failed.” The Jewish Agency in Israel, he insisted, should be the sole organization dealing with aliya and the Absorption Ministry should be abolished. He said he would strive for the implementation of recommendations made last year by a special committee of experts headed by Amos Horev, president of the Haifa Technion.

The Horev committee called for abolition of the Absorption Ministry and the creation of a joint government-Jewish Agency body for immigration and absorption to function within the framework of the Jewish Agency, headed by the Jewish Agency chairman and responsible only to the Prime Minister.

The Horev recommendations were shelved by the Labor Alignment government for political reasons. Dulzin, a leader of the Liberal Party wing of Likud, said he would press for their adoption by the Begin government. But he agreed that beyond the structural changes needed, the most important element to improve eliya was “a social atmosphere that would give the immigrant the feeling he is wanted here. Unfortunately, there has been much talk about it but it was mainly lip service and aliya was never put at the top of Israel’s list of priorities.” According to Dulzin, “without aliya, the very existence of Israel is threatened.”

WILL CLOSE 17 OF 19 U.S. ALIYA OFFICES

He also discussed important changes he has in mind after the World Zionist Congress selects a new executive. He said he would seek a wall-to-wall coalition representing all Zionist factions that will include many new faces. But, he added, “the best plan would be worthless without suitable personnel to carry it out. We have to match the suitable persons to the various tasks and not the other way around as has often been the case in the cast.”

In that connection, Dulzin disclosed that he planned a drastic reduction and reorganization of the system of WZO emissaries (shlichim) abroad. He said he would close down 17 of the 19 aliya offices in the U.S. retaining only the ones in New York and California. He also said that instead of sending emissaries for extended periods, he would send groups for 3-6 month tours who would have to work under the guidance of the aliya offices in New York or California.

Dulzin had nothing but praise for the American Jewish community. According to him, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat’s peace initiative was undertaken only because Sadat realized that U.S. Jewry would not permit the Carter Administration to exert pressure on Israel for concessions. “American Jewry will have a lot to say also in the current political developments. Our power in the U.S. depends largely on that Jewry,” he claimed.

REACTION TO LEVY’S STATEMENT

(In New York, Ammon Zakov, director of information at the Israel Aliya Center, issued the following statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency on Levy:

“(The Israel Aliya Center deeply regrets the rumors that is was behind the cutting short of Minister Levy’s visit to the U.S. These rumors have caused the extreme remarks by Mr. Levy about the shlichim. It was ultimately clarified to the Minister that the shlichim did their utmost for the organizing and the success of his visit. The Minister has acknowledged this and expressed his deep regret for the misunderstanding and expressed his high esteem for the work of the shlichim. The Israel Aliya Center has one and only one commitment, aliya, and no involvement whatsoever in any political struggle in Israel.”)