Golda Meir, Foreign Minister of the State of Israel, declared tonight that, unlike other countries in the world, “Israel does not fear a population explosion. We regard a substantial increase in population not as a menace but as a challenge and as a great and historic opportunity.” She told an audience of 18,000 Israel bond purchasers attending the Chanukah Festival for Israel at Madison Square Garden that Israel hopes to increase her population by one million by 1970 and by “still another million in the decade to follow.”
Mrs. Meir said “as long as there are areas in this world where Jews cannot live on a basis of equality with other citizens, Israel must be ready to accept them and do so even if they should come in great and overwhelming numbers;” She was the guest of honor at the 11th annual Chanukah Festival, which was presented by the Greater New York Committee for Israel Bonds as a highlight of its drive to raise $13,000,000 during Israel’s 13th anniversary or Bar Mitzvah year.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
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.
