A total of $93,350,000 of the $100,000,000 American loan to Israel has already been cleared by the United States, it was announced here today by the Israel Government’s Cental Department of Statistics. During the months of January and February, 1950, a total of $23,000,000 worth of American goods purchased under the terms of the Export-Import Bank;s loan arrived in Israel.
(In London it was reported this week-end that following repeated representations, the British Treasury has released 40,000 pounds ($112,000) of frozen Israel sterling assets. The funds will be used for the purchase of books, periodicals and copyrights. It was announced that the International Wheat Council last night increased its 1950 allotment of wheat to Israel’s from 120,000 tons to 140,000 tons. The action was based on the fact that Israel’s population continues to increase and that the old allotment was computed on population figures of some months ago.)
The statistical bureau also announced that 362,450 immigrants arrived in Israel between the establishment of the state on May 14, 1948 and the end of February, 1950. It was also reported that total immigration during 1948 was 118,993; 239,331 during 1949; and 21,299 in the first two months of 1950.
The Bedouin population of the Negev in Israel is approximately 15,000, according to the results of a census conducted by Israel officials and made public this week-end. Identity cards bearing the Bedouins’ photographs will be issued to the nomads soon.
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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.