A demand that Israel adopt a law requiring every youth and new immigrant to spend two years in settlements to colonize the barren areas of Israel was made here today at the seventh world conference of the Brith Trumpeldor organization.
The demand was made by Aaron Propes, leader of the organization, after the reading of a message from Premier David Ben Gurion appealing to the youth of Israel to settle the barren areas of the southern Negev, the hills of Jerusalem and Galilee. Propes also urged establishment of a Joint committee of all Israeli youth organizations to send instructors to immigrant camps to encourage the new arrivals to take up life in the settlements.
A group of youths belonging to the Hashomer Hatzair today established a new settlement in the Nogev overlooking the Wadi Araba valley. The valley will soon be turned over to Israel under the terms of the Israeli-Transjordan armistice agreement.
Lag B’Omer, the ancient festival commemorating the cessation of the plague which is said to have killed thousands of Rabbi Akiba’s disciples during the Jewish rebellion led by Bar Kochba against the Roman legions in Palestine, was marked in an austere manner throughout Israel today.
A new settlement was founded at Meron, burial place of Rabbi Johanan ben Zakai, in the presence of Minister of Religion Rabbi Judah L. Fishman-Maimon and Dr. Dov Joseph, Minister of Food and Supply. Huge bonfires, in keeping with the traditions of the Lag B’Omer celebration, lit the Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Meron areas.
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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.
