A million dunams (250,000 acres) of land abandoned by Arabs in Israel was bought last year by the Jewish National Fund, it was announced this week-end by Dr. Abraham Granot, head of the J.N.F., at a reception tendered to ##im on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. Dr. Granet reveated that more than ##30,000,000 was paid for this land by the J.N.F. to the Israel Government, which is the custodion of abandoned Arab property.The J.N.F. director also disclosed that his organization this year invested 20,000,000 in establishing new settlements. About 10,000 new immigrants, he said, are at present engaged in afforestation projects carried out by the Jewish National fund. More than 3,000,000 trees were planted by the J.N.F. last year and 5,000,000 grees will be planted this year. The organization is also active in reclamation of lesort land in the Negev and in financing housing projects, Dr. Granot reported.
The budget of the Jewish National Fund for this year is about $50,000,000, of which $30,000,000 has been collected from Jews in all parts of the world, notably in the United States. The remainder is being covered by loans, including a $6,000,000 loan from Swiss banks and a $4,000,000 loan from Fronch banks. The Jewish National Fund is also negetiating a $6,000,000 loan with Swedish financiers, Dr. Granot said.
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