U.J.A. Study Mission Asks U.S. Jews to Raise Extra Funds for Israel

The hundred-man study mission of the United Jewish Appeal concluded its whirlwind survey of the situation in Israel tonight by adopting a resolution calling on the American Jewish community to give the UJA a mandate for next year to seek sufficient funds above the regular campaign for the complete absorption of the 80,000 immigrants who arrived in this country during the past year and the 70,000 anticipated arrivals from Eastern Europe and other countries this year.

Premier David Ben Gurion who was to have been the principal speaker at the dinner to the delegation tonight, was unable to attend but from Hadassah Hospital where he is recovering from injuries received in a madman’s assassination attempt, sent the delegation a nine-point program of action. He listed the following tasks.

First welcome absorption and integration of hundreds of thousands of immigrants, including many from Eastern Europe: second complete integration of the many immigrants already arrived in Israel; third, long-range irrigation program including the Jordan River project; fourth, settlement of the Negev for agriculture and industry and communications including a large port city at Elath, fifth, establishment of peaceful relations with the Arabs; sixth, preparation of the country for utilization of peaceful atomic energy, seventh, strengthening of the pioneering spirit of the people; eight raising educational standards and ninth, strengthening of Israel’s bonds with world Jewry.

In a reference to the Syrian situation, the Premier described it as grave but said, “we are meeting this new situation without panic, determined to press on with our development programs.”

Earlier in the day, the members of the mission were received by President Itzhak Ben Zvi who presented each one with a scroll formally inviting him to return next year to participate in Israel’s tenth anniversary celebrations.