Israeli Consulate in New York is Involved in Major Activities

Israel’s Consul General in New York, Uri Ben-Ari, said yesterday that although major efforts have been made by the Consulate in information there is still much to be done. He said the Consulates lack the funds and manpower necessary for the task.

Addressing a press conference at the Consulate, Ben-Art noted that the main target is to reach “the Jewish masses” in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Noting that since the successful rescue operation at Entebbe Airport there has been a “honeymoon” between the American media and the cause of Israel, he warned nonetheless that in the future Israel could face a situation in which the media will not be so favorably responsive.

Ben-Ari pointed out that for a long time the Israeli stand on the Palestine Liberation Organization was not accepted by the American media, until recently when the war in Lebanon caused a change in this attitude.

OUTLINES SOME ACTIVITIES

Yaakov Levy, Information Officer at the Consulate, said the Consulate’s efforts in information have been largely aimed during the last few months at political and economic groups; educational systems, including universities, high schools and parochial schools; the general media, with emphasis on non-metropolitan newspapers; ethnic and religious groups and the Jewish community.

Levy said that at least 200 lectures a month are arranged by the Consulate and more than 100 different firms of Israel are shown at least 500 times a month before various groups. The Consulate, he added, also has four different radio talk shows which are broadcast weekly by 300 radio stations throughout the country. In addition, printed material and posters on the achievements of Israel are distributed, he said.