Dulzin Says Jews Once Again Nation of Rootless Wanderers

Dulzin acknowledged that Israel was at fault for foiling to provide housing for newcomers or fostering a quality of life that would encourage people to make their home here. He also conceded that Israel has foiled to win the Jewish intelligentsia to the Zionist cause.

But his wrath was directed mainly at Jews who leave the Soviet Union but go to the U.S. or other countries. There are already more than 50,000 Soviet Jews living in the U.S., he said. He also deplored the fact that most Jewish emigrants from Iron and Latin American countries preferred to settle elsewhere. Similarly, he said “a fair number of Jews in the African continent feel the ground is burning beneath their feet. But instead of making aliya to Israel, they take up the staff of the wanderer and head for Dallas, Texas. He said “The curse of Cain seems to have befallen the Jewish people in this generation when a Jewish state stands ready to welcome them.

The Zionist leader warned that “Our future and the future of our children in this land cannot be guaranteed” unless the Jewish population of Israel rises to 7-8 million by the end of the century. He said if there were five million Jews living in Israel today instead of three million, the nation’s political struggles would be immeas urably easier.

URGES ENDING DUPLICATION

He appealed to Premier Menachem Begin, seated on the dais, to “do everything possible to unite all absorption agencies so as to avoid duplication and unnecessary hardships and frustrations for the new immigrants.” This was a reference to Dulzin’s long-standing demand that the Absorption Ministry be abolished and its activities merged into the Jewish Agency’s aliya department. “To the public in Israel, I appeal to you open your hearts (to the new immigrant), make it easier for him to be absorbed,” he said.

With respect to drop-outs, Dulzin demanded that “the government and Jewish Agency take drastic and even extreme steps to reduce the drop-out rate–better earlier than later. “He reiterated his view that with the existence of Israel there is no such thing as “refugee status” for any Jew anywhere. “There fore, those Jewish organizations who help these so-called refugees should cease to extend such help which was appropriate during and after the World War,” he said.

Dulzin urged the Zionist movement to turn its attention to the Jewish intellectuals. “It can be said that by now we have succeeded in winning over to our cause a significant section of the Jewish business community to be more involved in Jewish and Israel-oriented activity. But the same cannot be said in regard to the academic community,” he said. Praising Begin for his” courage, resourcefulness and determination in bringing peace with Egypt, “Dulzin said,” despite differences of opinion that exist today on various issues, the Zionist movement stands united as one man behind the State of Israel and the government of Israel, today, tomorrow and always.