About 3,200 people have re-migrated from Israel to other countries, it was revealed here today at a press conference held by Alexander Kahn, general manager of the Jewish Daily Forward and a member of the administrative committee of the Joint Distribution Committee, who has just completed a visit to Israel. Mr. Kahn spoke at the offices of the J.D.C. here.
In response to questions by correspondents, Moses Beckelman, J.D.C. ‘s European director, said that about two-thirds of the 3,200 who left Israel originally went to Israel because they were unable to obtain visas to any other countries. Rumanian Jews, for example, he said, are only given passports enabling them to leave for Israel.
There are about 300 people from Israel now in France, of whom 50 have asked the J.D.C. for assistance. Asked about J.D.C. policy towards such people, Mr. Beckelman said: “It is a matter of principle that persons brought to Israel at their own request through funds contributed by Jews cannot expect aid from these same funds again. We don’t follow this principle to the letter in the case of sick and helpless people.”
Mr. Kahn told of the work being done by the J.D.C. in Israel for disabled and aged immigrants through the Malben program. Of 3,346 handicapped people served by Malben in 1951, he said, more than 1,100 are now self-supporting. In addition, Mr. Kahn said, facilities for another 2,000 immigrants are being made available.
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