Sharply increased immigration to Israel in recent months has caused an “extremely critical situation” for the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem, Moshe Sharett, newly elected chairman of the Agency, cabled the United Jewish Appeal today.
Mr. Sharett, former Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Israel, urged that a United Jewish Appeal Cash Drive to raise $36,370,000 by June 13th in cash funds be stepped up “to the maximum extent possible.” He said that April had seen an influx of 3,400 new immigrants to Israel and that May might see the monthly figure rise to 4,000.
In his cable, Mr. Sharett noted that the immigration rate had risen sharply with the coming of spring. The Jewish Agency, he reported, had budgeted for a maximum monthly immigration of 2,500, but this was being upset by “an increasing flow” of new immigrants. Spring also has increased the needs of 130,000 immigrant farm settlers in Israel, Mr. Sharett reported. He declared needs of hundreds of young farm settlements for additional equipment and services are “most acute.”
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