The French Government is prepared to grant Israel long-term credits for the purchase of producers’ goods and short-term credits for consumer items, Levi Eshkol, Israel Finance Minister, declared here today before departing for Israel.
Mr. Eshkol informed newsmen that France was interested in selling Israel producers’ goods because it would provide French workers with employment while it did not commit French products which otherwise could earn dollars. He did not disclose the amount of credits discussed with French officials. In response to questions, he said that France wanted to help Israel build a pipeline with Israel’s own resources.
The Finance Minister further reported that private French interests, with whom he had also conferred, were interested in his propositions for credits and investment in private industry and business in Israel. He expressed satisfaction with the results of the recent Europe-North African Keren Hayesod conference, noting that Israel might have to take in 100,000 immigrants in 1958 and 1959 as well as this year.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
