Knesset Members Help Launch Cash Drive for Israel Bonds; $1.5m in Sales During First Day of Drive

An intensive Israel Bonds telephone cash campaign to aid the economy of Israel was launched yesterday by Israel’s Knesset delegation to the U.S. headed by Knesset Speaker Yisrael Yeshayahu, in the Grace Building in the Times Square area. The opening day of the three-day campaign resulted in the sale of $1.5 million in Israel Bonds.

Each member of the Knesset delegation, which is in this country at the invitation of the United States Congress, addressed the 500 volunteers who turned out for the opening of the “Dial-for-Israel” program on behalf of the Israel Bond campaign in New York. Yeshayahu and Knesset members Ari Ankorion, Yitzhak Ben Aharon, Chaika Grossman, Yosef Tamir, Zerah Warhaftig and Menachem Beigin addressed the group in English and in Hebrew. Michael Arnon, president and chief executive officer of the Israel Bond Organization, emphasized the strategic role of economic aid in preserving Israel’s freedom.

Deep feelings were expressed by individual members of the Knesset, all of whom underscored their appreciation of the U.S. Congress for its “show of friendliness.” They also thanked the people of America, who gave them a “sense of being partners.” The Israel Bond volunteers present, the members stated, allowed them to feel “they were not alone in the world.”

The “Dial-for-Israel” program is the New York City phase of a nationwide Israel Bond effort to provide $100 million in cash to relieve Israel’s critical financial position and to help expand industrial and agricultural production. Sidney Cooperman, national cash collection chairman for Israel Bonds, presented a sterling silver coin, marking the 25th anniversary year of the Israel Bond campaign, to Yeshayahu.