Senators Examining Israel’s Needs

Two U.S. Senators, here to examine Israel’s needs in light of its request for $2.5 billion in U.S. economic aid bombarded Jewish Agency chairman Pinhas Sapir with questions during a visit Friday to the new immigrant absorption center in the Katamon quarter of Jerusalem. The chief interrogator was Sen, Daniel Inouye (D. Hawaii), chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Foreign Aid. He was accompanied by Sen. Charles Mathias (R. Md.), a member of the subcommittee.

“How many immigrants do you expect during this year and what is your estimation as to the possible number of immigrants from Russia? How much does it cost to absorb them, to provide them with housing, education and health services? “Those were some of the questions Inouye fired at the chairman of the Jewish Agency and World Zionist Organization Executives who was formerly Israel’s Minister of Finance.

Sapir and his chief aides from the Agency’s immigration and absorption department did not have ready answers for all of the questions. But Sapir promised to provide the two legislators with detailed information during their stay here.

The Senators arrived in Israel last Thursday and had long discussions with Premier Yitzhak Rabin and Finance Minister Yehoshua Rabinowits, But so far they have withheld comments of their own, They told reporters that they might have something to say before they leave Israel.

Meanwhile, the Israelis demonstrated how they were saving money for American taxpayers by rehabilitating and making use of Soviet military equipment captured during the Yom Kippur War. The Senators visited an army camp where they viewed some of the booty and later visited army workshops where Russian tanks and other captured weapons were being modified for use by Israeli forces. The Senators also visited an Air Force base where they watched American Phantom jets and Skyhawks in action.