Palestine is facing a labor shortage as a result of curtailed Jewish immigration, the British Royal Commission was told today by Moshe Shertok, head of the political department of the Jewish Agency for Palestine.
Mr. Shertok and Dr. Werner Senator, head of the Agency’s immigration department, were the chief witnesses at today’s session of the commission’s investigation of Arab disorders. Both joined in explaining for the commission the procedure and problems involved in immigration.
Mr. Shertok declared the Government conducts double bookkeeping when issuing the semi-annual immigration schedule. He stressed the need for labor immigrants, pointing out the country faced a labor shortage.
Dr. Senator described the basis on which certificates are distributed and outlined Palestine’s immigration requirements. He praised the immigrant Yemenite Jews for the rapidity with which they acclimated themselves. He also praised the middle class immigrants, declaring they have done a lot for industry, trade and agriculture.
Lord Peel asked whether the Jewish Agency alone was responsible for distribution of the certificates or whether it had obligations to the Zionist parties. He also asked whether there was equal distribution of the certificates among Zionists and non-Zionists and regarding the claims of the Agudists, extreme orthodox non-Zionists, and the Revisionists.
Mr. Shertok said the Agency alone was responsible for the reservoir of Jewish immigration, except in the case of the Agudists and in the few cases where the Government acted.
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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.
