Israel Finance Minister Appeals to U.j.a.; Seeks Urgent Aid

American Jews were warned yesterday by Levi Eshkol, Israel’s Finance Minister, that Israel’s major gains in immigrant settlement, agricultural development and fiscal management may be lost unless the United Jewish Appeal is helped to realize $50,000,000 in cash by the end of this year.

The Israel Minister sent his warning in a message from Jerusalem to a meeting of the UJA’s National Campaign Cabinet, composed of 44 top Jewish leaders, which was held at the Waldorf Astoria. He pointed out that Israel’s forward economic movement of recent months is directly attributable to the UJA’s success this year in floating more than $62,000,000 so far through an extraordinary loan campaign which has paralleled its regular drive for funds. He emphasized, however, that the benefits produced by the loan will be “either lasting or temporary” depending on what American Jews do now.

Responding to Mr. Eshkol’s appeal, Samuel H. Dar off of Philadelphia, chairman of the Campaign Cabinet, moved adoption of a three-point plan for an immediate speed-up in efforts to raise the $50,000,000 cash goal. The plan, as adopted, calls upon all affiliated campaign bodies throughout the country to act at once in setting local cash goals, in staging “door to door” cash collection drives, and in borrowing funds from local banks wherever this is possible.

The meeting heard also from Dr. Giora Josephthal, treasurer of the Jewish Agency; David Horowitz, governor of the newly formed Israel State Bank; and Meir Sherman, director in this country of the Israel Office of Economic Services, who reported on aspects of Israel’s economic progress, outlook and needs.

Dr. Josephthal, who arrived here Sunday from Jerusalem especially to take part in the meeting, pointed out that the Jewish Agency may be forced to curtail important parts of its refugee settlement and absorption programs if cash from the current campaign is not realized in sufficient amounts.