Peres; Israel’s Answer to Terror is Development

In a special telephone message yesterday from Jerusalem, Shimon Peres, Minister of Information, urged Israel Bond leaders in 55 communities in the United States and Canada to give their answer to Maalot through more construction, development, settlement and economic expansion. Peres’ remarks were relayed through a telephone hookup to meetings held simultaneously under the auspices of the Israel Bond Organization to reaffirm American Jewry’s support for Israel following the tragic events at Maalot.

“Our answer to war is construction. Our answer to terror is development,” Peres said. “The thing that we can do in the memory of our fallen children is to make the future of the other children a happier one, a better one, an assured one. We have to bring more Jewish people to the mountains of the Galilee, to build more settlements, to develop more industries, and to cultivate the land,” he declared.

With the Information Minister on the nationwide telephone book up were Sam Rothberg, general chairman, and Michael Arnon, president and chief executive officer of Israel Bonds. Calling for an acceleration of activity in the sale of Israel Bonds, Rothberg emphasized the importance of the campaign to enroll every Jewish family in Shomrel Israel through the purchase of a minimum of $1000 in Israel Bonds.

“In the light of what happened at Maalot, the program for the enrollment of Shomret Israel brings home in a very real way the full impact of serving as Guardians of Israel,” he said. “Every family must be made to feel that they have a stake in strengthening Israel and making its future secure.” Arnon pointed out that for the first time in its history, the State of Israel will have a Development Budget amounting to more than. $1 billion this year and that Israel Bonds will have to provide most of it.