A leading Israeli physicist charged today that the so-called energy crisis is largely the invention of the Arab states and the international oil companies connected with them. According to Prof. Ernst David Bergman of the Hebrew University, the “almost hysterical discussion” of fuel supplies and crude oil shortages have become a “political card” in Arab hands.
Prof. Bergman, addressing the 10th conference for the Advancement of Science in Israel at Tel Aviv University, urged nevertheless that Israel concentrate on developing nuclear power as an alternative energy source. He said Israel was mistaken not to pursue its plans for desalination of water through nuclear energy. He maintained that whether or not there is an oil shortage, the future dies with nuclear energy.
Many more immigrants from Western nations leave Israel within the first three years of their arrival than do immigrants from the Soviet Union, it was disclosed in figures released by the Absorption Ministry and the Central Bureau of Statistics. The rate of departure of “potential” or Western immigrants who arrived between. Sept. Dec. 1969 is 31 percent compared to only eight percent among “full” immigrants who arrived in the same three month period.
Austrian oil consumers have become almost entirely dependent on Arab petroleum, a study published by the Shell Oil Co. showed. Austria two years ago imported only 40% of its oil from Arab countries. By the end of 1972 it had risen to 75%.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
