Rockefeller Praises Israel’s Economy

Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller paid tribute to Israel’s “triumph and courage over incredible obstacles” by focusing on a side of the miracle of Israel that’s too often overlooked.” Addressing some 1000 American and Israeli businessmen of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce attending a black-tie dinner at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Rockefeller declared: “We are all deeply and understandably impressed by the courage of Israeli arms. But equally vital to Israel’s survival has been her economic flowering over the past 25 years. She has become a humming, thriving workshop and a land of increasing plenty.”

The dinner paid tribute to Gustave L. Levy, former New York Stock Exchange Chairman and now senior partner in Goldman, Sachs and Co., for improving American-Israel trade and for encouraging increased financing of U.S. firms in Israel. Max Ratner, Chamber president presented Levy with the Chamber’s “Man of the Year” award.

Noting that the Chamber was founded 20 years ago and now has more than 500 participating corporate members, Levy said: “Our experiences and those of our clients in this brave new land, Israel, have been encouraging. This shows, we believe, that Israeli initiative, joined with capital and production know-how of great American corporations, can act to produce a strong and viable base to serve many of the world’s markets.”

Ambassador David Rivlin, Consul General of Israel, reviewed Israel’s first 25 years and noted that her economic growth and vitality is clearly shown by the vast and varied export of goods to various countries throughout the world. Israel, Rivlin said, even has the “chutzpah” to export wine to France.