Details of a broad building program in Jerusalem this year to house government offices and government workers in that city, as well as new immigrants and the new headquarters of the World Zionist Congress, were outlined here last night at a Histadrut meeting by Labor Minister Golda Myerson.
Today’s crucial problem, Mrs. Myerson said, was finding employment for the immigrants, who are excellent workers as demonstrated by the public housing projects erected last year with 85 percent of the manpower drawn from the newcomers. Moreover, she went on, 50,000 housing units are required for this year to absorb the immigrants now in the temporary camps and others who will be coming to Israel. She also stressed that existing industry together with new plants must soon provide jobs for 60,000 new arrivals.
A total of 127 settlements were established in 1949 and 174 since the formation of the Jewish state. Jewish and Arab settlements in Israel at the end of 1949 totaled 591. The founding in December of all new settlements was officially confirmed today. Four were formed by the Labor movement and seven by new immigrants.
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