Gen. Narkis Visits U.S. on Aliyah Mission, Predicts 36,000-40,000 Newcomers

The head of the Jewish Agency’s immigration department predicted an influx of 36,000-40,000 newcomers to Israel this year despite what he called “exaggerated” reports of border skirmishes and other events that give some Americans the impression that Israel is an “armed camp.” Gen. Uri Narkiss, who commanded the paratroop brigade that captured East Jerusalem from the Jordanians in June, 1967, stressed that despite Israel’s security problems, life in Israel is normal. “Hotels maintain full services, museums are open, our theaters and concert halls continue their usual cultural programs. Whether as tourists, students or immigrants. Americans will find the basic living in Israel unchanged,” he said.

Gen. Narkiss is here for a month’s visit during which he will confer with American Jewish leaders and visit branches of the Israel Aliya Center in an effort to stimulate immigration. He said “American aliyah will almost double this year from the record figure of 4,300 in 1968.” He added that “there is an undoubted new atmosphere and favorable climate for aliyah among Americans and we are eager to do everything possible to foster immigration of a broad spectrum of American Jewry.” He said one of the prime objectives of his visit was to assure the American Jewish community of the normalcy of life in Israel.

(Deputy Prime Minister Yigal Allon predicted in Jerusalem that the Soviet Union would change its policy regarding the emigration of Soviet Jews because the Jewish question there was still unsolved and was becoming a problem for the Soviet authorities themselves. Mr. Allon, who holds the portfolio of Minister of Immigrant Absorption, made his forecast in the course of a report to the Knesset on anticipated immigration this year. He said 35,000 newcomers were expected of which 12,000 would come from Europe, 6,500 from North America, 13,200 from Asia and Africa and the rest from Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. Mr. Allon said peak immigration period will be in the summer, when some 4,000 arrivals per month were expected.)