Israel Influx Points to $66 Million Need for Housing, U.J.A. Mission Told

The 145-member United Jewish Appeal Study Mission was told today that immigration to Israel may continue at a pace calling for huge expenditures, with possible housing outlays of $66,000,000 for the newcomers.

The $66,000,000 figure was given by Aryeh Pincus, Jewish Agency treasurer, at the first working session of the mission after its arrival here from Europe early today. He also told the United Jewish Appeal leaders that such funds would have to be raised in addition to those for projects to provide permanent housing for 2,500 immigrant families still in transit camps, for young couples and for slum dwellers.

Asserting that the Jewish nation had never been prepared for “tomorrow’s emergencies,” the Agency official said “it is time we start to take measures for tomorrow at least with the yardsticks of today.” He said that, if the current UJA goal was not reached “and it is essential that we raise even more,” the efforts of 25 years of UJA activities may be wasted.

Describing the efforts made by Israeli Jews in absorbing immigration, he said they covered two-thirds of such expenditures, with the remaining one-third being covered from abroad. With the anticipated greater immigration and the corresponding expected larger outlays for housing and settlement, he added, this ratio would change, and the burden on Israeli Jews would be greater. He added that this would be in addition to the security load which was being increased by the need to provide new weapons. Joseph Meyerhoff, UJA general chairman, presided.

Two plane loads of immigrants arrived at Lydda airport during the day. Members of the mission accompanied the newcomers to new homes waiting for them in the Negev.