Israel Bond Organization Reports Increasing Involvement of Business Firms, Banks, Unions in Its Prog

In a report to the International Fall Leadership Conference of Israel Bonds opening here tomorrow morning, Michael Arnon, president, announced that the Israel Bond Organization had produced a total of $3.47 billion for Israel’s economic development since the establishment of the organization in 1951. He noted that of this amount, $760 million or more than 20 percent was realized from the sale of Israel Bonds to banks, pension funds, labor unions, insurance companies and communal institutions.

More than 1000 Jewish leaders from the United States and Canada are participating in the 1976 International Fall Leadership Conference, which is being held through Sunday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The three-day parley will launch an intensive drive for the maximum sale of Israel. Bonds during the last four months of the year, which traditionally has been the Bond campaign’s most productive period.

Referring to the increased involvement of the business and financial world in the Israel Bond program, Arnon said the organization was encouraged by the growing support the campaign is receiving throughout North America in spite of the intensive Arab boycott against Israel and those who do business with her.

INITIATE NATIONWIDE PROGRAM

Sam Rothberg, general chairman, asserted that the conference would initiate a nationwide program to enlist the active cooperation of key business leaders as well as heads of labor unions in a two-pronged campaign for wider response to the Israel Bond campaign in the general community. He emphasized, however, that the “central and chief responsibility for the sale of Israel Bonds rests with the Jewish community which in the final analysis is making an investment not only in the future of Israel, but in the future of the entire Jewish people.”

Rothberg told the conference participants that Israel depends on Israel Bonds to furnish a major share of this year’s Development Budget of $1 billion which, he said, provides funds for the country’s major economic projects, including the drilling for oil and the search for new sources of energy to help make Israel independent of foreign fuel imports now at the rate of $600 million a year.

Arnon called on the Jewish leaders to accept additional responsibilities in the coming months to accelerate the pace of Israel Bond campaign activities in their communities. “Only a massive outpouring of funds will enable Israel to increase industrial production for export markets to decrease a serious trade deficit of close to $4 billion which,” he said, “is chiefly the result of an unprecedented defense budget of more than $3.5 billion.”

Principal speakers at the conference will be Mayor Teddy Kollek of Jerusalem, who will address a dinner session Saturday evening, and Simcha Dinitz. Israel’s Ambassador to the U.S., who will appear at the final conference session Sunday evening which will consist of an Ambassador’s gala in tribute to the Bond Organization and its top subscribers.

Consideration of campaign plans in three key areas will occupy the delegates on the opening day. Setting the keynote in these discussions will be Rabbi Leon Kronish, chairman of the National Rabbinic Cabinet, on the High Holiday effort in the synagogues; Mrs. Jan Peerce. chairman of the National Women’s Division, on the women’s campaign; and Milton Perlmutter, national chairman for Commerce and Industry, on the participation of the business community. Other leaders of the national campaign who will speak are Julian B. Venezky, chairman for Community Leadership, and Leonard Goldfine, national campaign co-chairman.