Nine Jewish settlements have been founded in Israel during the first week of January as part of the over-all objective of establishing fifty-one settlements during the first six months of 1949 with the aid of funds raised by Jews in the U.S., it was announced this week-end by Herman L. Weisman, acting national chairman of the United Palestine Appeal, on the basis of a cable received from Israel.
Seven of the agricultural colonies are located in Western Galilee and two are in the Negev, Israel’s southern desert area. One of the new agricultural colonies was founded by members of Beth Ha’aravh, a group of young pioneers who, ten years ago, embarked on an experiment of cultuvating the salt-laden soil at the northern tip of the Dead Sea, During the recent conflict they were surrounded by the enemy and rather than let their settlement fall into hostile hands, they destroyed it and were evacuated by Israeli planes. The members of this group, consisting of 120 families, are being resettled in Upper Galilee on 400 acres of fertile soil, with an abundant supply of water.
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.
