U.S. Jews Urged to Help Speedy Transfer of Jews from Moslem and Iron Curtain Countries

American Jews were urged today to lend their maximum support for a speedy transfer of Jews from Moslem and Iron Curtain countries to Israel. The appeal was voiced by Rudolf G. Sonneborn at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors of the United Palestine Appeal at which Mr. Sonneborn was reelected national chairman.

“It is the pronounced policy of the United States Government to create situations of strength in crucial areas throughout the world,” Mr. Sonneborn said. “It is the added and vital duty of American Jewry to create situations of speed through the United Jewish Appeal to get the Jews out of these countries so that Israel, itself, can develop a situation of strength in the strategically important, bur uncertain Middle East.”

He stressed that “every change in the international atmosphere is a vital factor in the flow of immigration.” He warned that “the outbreak of hostilities could freeze immigration immediately” and that, “the opportunities to bring Jews to Israel, potential and willing fighters for democracy, would vanish.” For the U.P.A. program in 1951 which emphasizes speedy transfer to Israel and constructive development of the country, Mr. Sonneborn declared that the required expenditures total 174,000,000. United Palestine Appeal agencies in Israel, which derive the major portion of their funds from American Jews, spent for the immigration and resettlement program in 1950 a total of $118,500,000 he reported.

The meeting paid special tribute to James G. McDonald, first U.S. Ambassador to Israel. A citation was presented to Mr. McDonald by Mr. Sonneborn and Ellis Radinky U.P.A. executive director, lauding the former Ambassador for “helping to forge a secure and lasting bridge of friendship between this country and the state of Israel.”

In accepting the citation, Mr. McDonald declared “that Israel’s sturdy democracy, constantly strengthened by the ingathered exiles who have had bitter experiences with dictatorial regimes, holds high promise as a democratic bridgehead in Western Asia. Israel’s military victories against seemingly impossible odds is proof that its enlarging strength will be utilized resolutely to defend itself and the democratic principles on which it is based.” Israel will rapidly become “a center from which the influences of Western scientific and democratic principles will permeate large areas of Asia and Africa,” he added.