U.S. Exports to Israel Totalled $363,000,000 in Four Years

American exports to Israel totalled $363,000,000 during the past four years, while American imports from Israel amounted to $38,000,000 in the same period, it was reported here today by Nathan Straus III, president of the American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, addressing the first member’s luncheon meeting of the Chamber at the Hotel Roosevelt.

“The American-Israel Chamber of Commerce and Industry, while dealing with day-to-day matters, is preparing a program calling for $250,000,000 in American purchases from Israel over the next ten years,” Mr. Straus revealed. “I believe this is a goal that can be achieved, since Israel now sells us goods for some $12,000,000 a year. At the same time, we shall work toward the objective of $750,000,000 in exports to Israel during this ten-year period.

“A major part of Israel’s purchases here have been paid for with Mutual Security funds. American businessmen have always believed that such assistance should be free of any ‘strings.’ Many of us, therefore, regarded with much regret and apprehension the action of our State Department in withholding this year’s grant-in-aid to Israel. As Americans and as businessmen interested in maintaining exports to Israel, we welcome the speedy resumption of this economic assistance which should be granted free of political or outside considerations,” Mr. Straus said.

Arieh Manor, director of the Government of Israel Supply Mission in New York, said that “the United States Mutual Security funds have helped to create a continuing market for American goods and services in Israel, and have produced in the Middle East a show-window for the products of American industry. Haim Ariav, member of the Israel Parliament, reported that Israel’s plan for purchases abroad calls for an expenditure of $233,000,000 during a nine-month period ending March 31, 1954.