Two-year Military Training to Be Introduced in Israel, Parliamentary Leader Reveals

A universal military and general training plan of two years’ duration for the entire Israeli population modeled along Switzerland’s mobilization scheme was revealed here today by David Zvi Pinkas, deputy assistant to the Speaker of the Israeli parliament and world Mizrachi leader, at a press conference which he addressed prior to his return to Tel Aviv.

The Israeli mobilization plan calls for two years of service for every male youth between 18 and 20 years of age, Mr. Pinkas said. One year will be spent in military training, and the second in general training for land-development and public utilities service. Girls of the same age level, he said, will be recruited for one-year training in auxiliary military services. The entire population, from 20 to 50 years of age, will thereafter be called up every year for several days’ review of their training.

Youth battalions, with membership from 14 to 18 years, will also be organized, he disclosed. Youths will be trained in military calisthenics, hiking and camping. The Israeli Government has assured that religious youths will be enabled to observe kashrut and Sabbath throughout their entire course of training, he stated.

JEWISH STATE WILL NEED $200,000,000 IN CAPITAL INVESTMENTS THIS YEAR

Reporting on Israel’s economic problems, Mr. Pinkas, who is also chairman of the finance committee of the Israeli parliament, announced that the Jewish state will need $200,000,000 in capital investments this year to carry out its peace-time program. This budget, he stated, will provide for housing, irrigation projects, land-development, roads, communications and airfields. He said that $50,000,000 will be raised on internal loans, the remainder coming from international bank loans and contributions from world Jewry.

Pointing out that the present Israeli Government “is doing everything in its power to aid private investments in Israel,” he urged Americans not only to invest in the new state’s growing economy, but also to help with their experience, technical knowledge and business skill.

Mr. Pinkas denied that attempts are being made by religious groups to establish a theocracy in the Jewish state. “Israel is a thoroughly democratic government,” he said. “If the majority of the members of parliament decide that the Sabbath or kashrut should be constitutionally sanctioned, that is democracy. If an individual disagrees with this decision, that is his privilege, but there can be no gainsaying a measure which is arrived at through democratic procedure.”