Israel is the “sole hope of resettlement” for any large-scale, movement of Jews from the Iron Curtain countries provided that the American Jewish community helps to make available the necessary funds through philanthropic sources, Rudolf G. Sonneborn, national chairman of the United Israel Appeal, said here today. He spoke at the 17th annual meeting of the United Israel Appeal’s board of directors which was held this afternoon at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.
Warning that Israel is currently ill-equipped to handle a mass migration, Mr. Sonneborn stressed that “the people of Israel have the will and the desire to welcome the Jews but the tragic fact is that we have lost precious years when we could have helped to consolidate the economy of the Jewish state were sufficient funds made available.” He expressed confidence that Jews the this country “would move heaven and earth to provide the major portion of the funds needed for the gigantic operation of bringing the Jews out of the Iron Curtain orbit.”
The U.I.A. national chairman called upon President Eisenhower to use “his good offices and the prestige and influence of our country” against the “official and state sanctioned exploitation of anti-Semitism as a principle of the Soviet government.” At the same time, he urged President Eisenhower “to help bring about negotiation of a peace settlement in the Middle East within the greater framework of his avowed and strong desire for world peace.”
The meeting elected a new slate of officers headed by Mr. Sonneborn as national chairman for his third one-year term; William H. Sylk, of Philadelphia, as chairman of the board of directors, and Ellis Radinsky as executive director. Mr. Sylk replaces Benjamin G. Browdy who held that post last year.
Mr. Radinsky, making his annual report, disclosed that the agencies of the U.I.A. in 1952 had spent a total of $80,459, 353 for their program of immigration, resettlement and general development of die country. More than half of this amount was provided by American Jews through the U. J. A. campaign while the balance was made up by campaigns in other countries, loans and open accounts.
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