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Poll Shows 98 Per Cent of Jewish Refugees in Italy Want to Go to Palestine

February 27, 1946
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Ninety-eight percent of the Jewish refugees in Italy have indicated that they wish to emigrate to Palestine, it was announced here today by the “Central Committee of Jewish Refugees,” which conducted a poll among the displaced Jews. The results are based on replies received from 9,160 of the estimated 15,000 Jewish refugees in this country.

Of the two percent who expressed a desire to go to other countries besides Palestine, most chose the United States, Canada and Argentina. None of those questioned declared that they wished to return to their homelands.

Only 33 percent of the 9,160 indicated that they were Zionists, while 16 percent said that they had been anti-Zionist, but realize now that their only hope for a peaceful and productive life lies in Palestine.

Other statistical data obtained from the poll reveals that 94 percent of those questioned are between 16 and 50 years old; most lived in ghettos or concentration camps; one percent survived because of false “aryan” identity papers; 18 percent were partisans.

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