From A Zionist Correspondent
Jerusalem, August 26
Date of Publication: August 27, 1948
The situation in Jerusalem is rapidly deteriorating. Arab Legion troops and irregulars continue sniping and occasionally hurl hand-grenades at Jewish army positions adjacent to the ancient city walls and shell Jewish suburbs.
The former Government House, which is now the centre of the International Red Cross mission, is the scene, day and night, of mortar and gun-duels between Jewish, Arab Legion, and Egyptian army positions. During the day life in Jerusalem remains normal, and large numbers of Jewish labourers are repairing the damage caused during the fighting. Food convoys are arriving daily and rations are being distributed to the Jewish population of 100,000.
After a three-day meeting in Jerusalem the general council of the World Zionist Organization has moved to Tel Aviv. It has had important discussions on the relationship between the Zionist Organization and the State of Israel. While the majority of the Labour Party (Mapai) advocate the closest cooperation between the World Zionist Organization and the Israelite Government, and maintain the right of members of the Israelite Government to be at the same time members of the Jewish Agency executive, American Zionists urged the council to segregate the functions of the Zionist Organization from those of the State of Israel. American Zionists envisage the future duties and aims of the World Zionist Organization and its executive as promoting Zionism outside the State of Israel, organizing world Jewry, and securing funds for the establishment of more Jewish settlements in Israel, as urged by part of the American Zionist delegation.
The Minister of Immigration of the provisional Government has been severely criticized for his planned scheme for the future immigration of Jewish displaced persons from Europe, fixing the number of immigrants at 1m. in 10 years at a rate of 100,000 a year. Most delegates urged the Government to keep their promise of unrestricted immigration and abolish visas or immigration permits into Israel in any form.
