A four-day national conference inaugurating the Israel Bond campaign for 1960 opened here today with the participation of 1,900 delegates from Jewish communities in all parts of the United States and Canada. The conference will decide on ways and means to sell $75,873,000 in bonds during the current year, thus bringing the overall total for ten years to the $500,000,000 mark.
High point of the four-day Conference will occur on Sunday, when former President Harry S, Truman will be the principal speaker at a dinner in honor of General Moshe Dayan, Minister of Agriculture and former Chief of Staff of the Army of Israel. General Dayan served as Commander of the Israel forces in the Sinai Campaign in the winter of 1956.
Addressing the board of governors this morning, Dr. Joseph J. Schwartz, vice-president of the Israel Bond Organization, said that an economically strong Israel will bring peace in the Middle East and advance the cause of freedom. He urged Americans and Canadians to join in raising $75,873,550 through the sale of Israel bonds this year in order “to help Israel overcome the economic roadblock being set up by the intensified Arab boycott of Israel and the blockade by the United Arab Republic of all shipping seeking to use the Suez Canal.
“American aid to Israel through Israel bonds represents a vital instrument in preserving the independence of Israel against growing Arab hostility,” Dr. Schwartz stated. He stressed that the economic war being waged by the Arabs against Israel represents a very serious threat to her existence. “It is our obligation to provide Israel with the financial means through Israel bonds to combat these attacks on her economic lifeline,” he said.
“We are proud of the fact that as a result of the funds provided by Israel bonds, the State of Israel has expanded her merchant marine, established markets for her goods abroad and developed a new harbor at Eilat on the Gulf of Akaba to open a gateway for trade with many countries in Asia and Africa. With the aid of Israel bonds,” Dr. Schwartz asserted, “Israel is now selling her products to 90 countries around the globe including the United States, Great Britain and many other lands.”
Lawrence G. Laskey, of Boston, chairman of the national executive committee of the Israel Bond Organization, cited major economic advances made by Israel since the inception of the Israel bond drive.
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