The completion of the Tripolitanian immigration and the virtual liquidation of the Tripolitanian Jewish community was announced here today by Itzhak Raphael, Jewish Agency immigration director. The arrival of 400 immigrants from Tripoli yesterday marked the end of organized immigration.
Mr. Raphael revealed that over 31, 000 Jews came to Israel from the North African country in the past two years. Only 800 wealthy Jews who have been unable to liquidate their assets remain, together with some 500 aged and sick Jews who have no relatives in Israel and will receive care provided by the local community and the Joint Distribution Committee.
The Agency official denied reports that immigration from Hungary would decrease. He said that only 3, 500 immigrants had arrived in Israel from all countries this month and that only 3, 000 would arrive next month. He attributed this drop to a number of factors: the normal decrease during the winter months; an unexpected decrease from Rumania, from which only 2, 000 of an anticipated 6, 000 arrived this month; and the fact that some North African immigrants need more medical care before setting out on the journey to the Jewish State. He also expressed hope that Rumanian immigrants will increase in number in the next few weeks.
At a meeting of the Agency yesterday, Mr. Raphael reported on the general immigration picture, with special stress on the Tunisian situation. The Agency decided to take steps to hasten immigration from countries where political developments threaten the local Jewish communities. This problem will be placed before the Agency-government immigration coordination board.
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