With the arrival yesterday of 663 immigrants from Tripoli, the Jewish population of Israel is now 1,000,000, Yaacov Blomberg, acting director of the Ministry of Immigration, announced today. He said that 321,991 newcomers arrived in Israel since the new state was set up on May 15, 1948. The natural population increase was 22,600 in the same period.
Reviewing the achievements of immigration and the problems of migrating from various countries, Mr. Blomberg stressed that the average monthly rate of arrivals had risen from 14,000 last year to 21,000 for 1949. He added that 20,000 more were expected to arrive by the end of the year.
Of the arrivals since the state was formed, he said, 40 percent came from Eastern countries. From July, 1948, to Nov. 7 of this year, 25,000 Jews came from Yemen, 4,000 of whom are currently housed in the Hashed camp at Aden while 14,000 are travelling over desert wastes and mountains to reach that camp.
Of the estimated total of 70,000 Jews in Poland, Mr. Blomberg said that 30,000 would reach Israel in the next few months. The first group of Polish Jews was expected to be here by the end of this month, he reported. Of the 35,000 Jews remaining in Czechoslovakia, about 14,500 have already emigrated, he said. More than 34,000 Jews have come from Bulgaria, where only 7,000 are left. Up to the end of September, 7,000 Jews came from Yugoslavia, of a total estimated population of 11,000.
Only four Russian Jews reached Israel, he added. There were hopes that Soviet Jewry’s emigration would improve. Emigration from Hungary now hinged on specific hopes. Rumania had recently authorized exit permits for about 1,000 elderly Jews whose close relatives were already in Israel.
About 45,000 Jews were estimated to remain in all zones of Germany, but with the impending closure of Israel immigration offices and consulates there, owing to the government’s determination not to maintain relations with either Western or Eastern Germany, potential emigrants would have to apply to private international relief organizations at Munich. Emigration from Austria is almost ended, Mr. Blomberg said.
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