A denial of the allegation made by the Palestine Government that the Jews “are mainly guilty of profiteering in Palestine” was voiced here today by Dr. Emil Shmorak, economic advisor of the Jewish Agency, addressing a gathering of the Journalists Association.
This charge, Dr. Shmorak said, is contained in an official government report published in English, Hebrew and Arabic. He announced that “the political department of the Jewish Agency is preparing an adequate official protest.”
Dr. Shmorak estimated that $60,000,000 are now invested in 1,800 Jewish enterprises in Palestine. He said that 45,000 Jewish families are earning their livelihood in Palestine’s industry. He warned, however, that unless more industrial investments are made by Jews in Palestine, the opportunity to develop the country into an important industrial center for the entire Far East will be missed, since Turkey and Egypt are also developing large industries. “I do not think that industry is less important for the development of Palestine than agriculture,” he declared.
Pointing out that of the $56,000,000 Jewish industrial production in Palestine in 1941 only goods valued at $16,000,000 were acquired by British forces, Dr. Shmorak emphasized that much of Palestine’s production can be exported to other countries if only Palestine’s industry is expanded. Hundreds of thousands and even millions of people could then be absorbed and provided with work, he asserted.
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