“no Hunger in Israel,” Minister of Agriculture Reports

“There is no hunger in Israel,” Minister of Agriculture Pinchas Lavon told newsmen today. He attributed the recent reports of a deteriorating food situation in Israel to various parties which, he said, are trying to force the Mapai Party to accede to their terms for entrance into a coalitionary government.

Minister Lavon stated that there has been no basic change in the food situation, except for the seasonal decline in the vegetable supply. The autumn vegetable supply will become available in November and will last for eight or ten months. He agreed that housewives living under an austerity regime feel the lack of vegetables at this time, but added that the government has ordered large quantities of potatoes which will start arriving this month. Besides, he said, canned vegetables and preserves have already been distributed this month.

Concerning the meat situation, Mr. Lavon reported that there had been three distributions of meat last month and that a shipment of tinned meat, packed under the supervision of a Liberal Rabbi in New York, will be distributed this month. For the Orthodox who will not eat this canned meat, he said, there will be five sorts of fish available on the market free from rationing. Argentine meat is expected for October and November, he disclosed, adding that other meat supplies are expected from a company which is scheduled to get under way shortly in Abyssinia. He declared that each Israeli gets 25 eggs a month, 15 fresh and 10 powdered.

The Minister announced that he will report to the Parliament tomorrow on the current food supply situation. He also hinted that he will not participate in the new government which is currently being formed.