To clarify misunderstanding concerning allocations made by the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., the Agency’s chairman, Deway D. Stone, in a statement issued here today re-affirmed that the disposition of all Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., funds will be for completely philanthropic purposes, and that there will be no relationship to political parties in any shape, form or manner. The full text of Mr. Stone’s statement follows:
“In view of current press reports, it is important to clearly re-state the position of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., with regard to allocating funds to the constructive enterprises of the political parties in Israel.
“On May 11, 1960, at the first meeting of the reorganized board of directors of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Inc., it was voted to terminate allocations to the constructive enterprises of the political parties in Israel effective, December 31, 1960. It is a basic and fundamental policy that no such allocations to the constructive funds be made in the future. On behalf of the Jewish Agency for Israel. Inc., I wish to re-affirm this policy. There has never been a change in this decision, and there is no intention of doing so now or in the future.
“A subcommittee of our board is studying ways and means of mitigating the effect of this basic policy decision on the various institutions, such as agricultural settlements, youth services, rehabilitation and medical facilities aiding immigrants in Israel. It is the recommendation of this committee that the philanthropic institutions affected by this policy decision be treated in the same fashion as are all other institutions receiving aid funds, i. e. solely on the basis of the merits of the services they extend to Israel’s newcomers.
“It is the function of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Inc., to allocate funds for transportation, absorption and rehabilitation of immigrants in Israel. Each year, our board will receive from the Jewish Agency in Israel budgetary proposals covering every activity for which our funds are allocated. These proposals will receive on the spot study and approval from our own representative in Israel. Dr. Isador Lubin. Based upon Dr. Lubin’s recommendation, our board of directors will then approve allocations for specific purposes. These allocations will be paid directly by the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem to the individual institutions or settlements in Israel.”
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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.