The area of ancient Modin, birthplace of the Maccabees, Israel’s liberator-kings, will be resettled and named for Itzhak Ben Zvi, Israel’s recently elected President, it was announced last night by Mendel N. Fisher, executive director of the Jewish National Fund, at a meeting arranged by the labor department of the JNF in the Commodore Hotel. The meeting was attended by about 2,000 persons.
Two new settlements, complete with pine and carob tree forests girding the area and a system of roads connecting it with Jerusalem, will soon arise on the old site of the Maccabees, Mr. Fisher declared. The land, occupying 10,000 denims (2,500 acres), will be furnished by the Jewish National Fund.
Israel’s Finance Minister, Levi Eshkol, addressing the gathering, said; “Israel has done a great deal of preparing but is really only at the beginning as far as results are concerned. However, every year brings us closer to the time when the ripe fruits of our endeavors shall be visible to all. In this endeavor the Jewish National Fund has been of inestimable value. It has been our land provider and water carrier. It is our principal land developer.” Other speakers included Eliahu Dobkin, member of the Jewish Agency executive. Louis Segal, leader of the Labor Zionist movement in the United States, presided.
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