Leon Dulzin chairman of the world Zionist Organization and Jewish Agency Executives, disclosed here today that about 8000 Iranian Jews arrived in Israel during the last few months,1000 of whom intend to remain as citizens, while 5000 more left Iran for other countries. He estimated that there are still some 65,000 Jews in Iran.
” We will take and absorb in Israel as many Iranian Jews as come, ” Dulzin told a press conference at Jewish Agency headquarters here. He said the situation of Iranian Jews is a matter of concern because “they might face danger.” Asked why Iranian Jews did not leave en masse, Dulzin said “We used every possible way in the last four months to convince Iranian Jews to come to Israel.” He did not elaborate but said he hoped there still was time “to save as many Jews as possible” in Iran.
Dulzin predicted that between 40,000-50,000 Jews will be allowed to leave the Soviet Union this year, an increase he attributed to Moscow’s desire for more trade with the U.S. and the continuation of detente. But he said Israel would get only about 40 percent of the emigrants because of the drop-out situation. He said the drop-outs leave the USSR with Israeli visas but once outside, they decide to go to other countries. Dulzin said the Jewish Agency and the Israeli government are seeking ways to reduce the number of drop-outs.
Dulzin is visiting the U.S. to meet with Jewish community leaders for discussions of various issues, including Iranian and Soviet Jewry, aliya and “projects Renewal ” the mass slum clearance and social rehabilitation program in Israel. He has met with the WZO-American Section and the Executive of the American Zionist Federation to discuss proposals for the re-structuring of the Zionist movement in the U.S. Since his arrival last week, he has been the guest of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations and was also a guest of the Joint Distribution Committee Executive.
PREDICTS INCREASED ALIYA
Dulzin read a statement at his press conference today expressing “great concern. that there are still no positive developments in the case of Anatoly Shcharansky and other “Prisoners of Zion” in the Soviet Union. He said there was and increaser of anti-Semitic propaganda in the USSR and continued harassment of Jewish activists there.
Discussing aliya from other parts of the world, Dulzin predicted on increase in the number of immigrants from South Africa and Latin America. He also discussed the creation of the National Commission to teach about Israel and Zionism in Jewish schools throughout the U.S. which is sponsored by the WZO-American Section and the American Association for Jewish Education According to Dulzin, the commission will sponsor teacher conferences in various communities on the most effective use of teaching materials on Zionism and Israel.
In an address to the Presidents Conference last Thursday, Dulzin spoke about the problems of Jewish immigration from Iran and Ethiopia and on the Middle East situation. He also took the occasion to denounce allegations that Israel tortured Arab prisoners arrested for security offenses He said such allegations were “an attempt to intimidate the Israeli government” and declared” emphatically deny that physical torture is practiced against Arab Prisoners.
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