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Histadruth Proclaims “week for Russia”; Will Raise Fund for Medical Aid to Soviets

October 24, 1941
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A decision to proclaim the last week of October as a “Week of Solidarity and Aid for Russia” was adopted here today at the closing session of the conference of Histadruth, the Palestine Federation of Labor, which is the largest organized Jewish body in Palestine.

The funds collected during this week will be allocated to the medical delegation which the Histadruth is sending to Soviet Russia. The delegation, carrying medical equipment, is to proceed “to the front where the Soviet Army is fighting the tramplers of mankind,” a resolution adopted at today’s conference states. The Histadruth executive is also empowered to change the form of its aid to Russia as circumstances require.

Another resolution sends “brotherly greetings to thousands of Histadruth members and other Jewish soldiers who are standing on guard to defend the Yishub and the country against the Nazi enemy.” It empowers the executive of the Histadruth to work out a plan of post-war colonization in Palestine of Jewish soldiers and their families with the aid of the Palestine government. The resolution also demands that in Palestine the soldiers should receive the same pay as do the British soldiers. At the same time the resolution calls upon the Palestine Jewish population to increase their contribution to the fund for greater support of the families of Jewish soldiers.

GOVERNMENT URGED TO ADMIT NEW IMMIGRANTS TO REPLACE ENLISTED JEWS

The demand that the Palestine government should admit new Jewish immigrants into Palestine to replace the Jews who enlisted in the British forces and on various defense duties is voiced in one of the resolutions passed at the conference. The resolution claims that the shortage of Jewish workers affects the Palestine war effort in industry and agriculture. It asks the government to permit Jewish immigration from Soviet Russia and from the countries bordering on Palestine.

The conference also adopted a resolution urging the Palestine government to supply the Jewish settlers with seeds and necessary agricultural machines in order to increase agricultural production in the country “and avoid real hunger.” The Palestine government is also urged to combat profiteering and the increase in prices on foodstuffs. The Jewish workers will vigorously defend their wages in accordance with prices of basic commodities, the government is warned.

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