Conference in Jerusalem tells US Jews to halt aid to Israel

Chairman of Israel's branch of the United Jewish Appeal, Dov Lautman, urged US Jews to reverse the practice of sending fund-raising money to Israel and spend the money on their own communities.

In a conference held by the society in Jerusalem, Lautman added that US Jews should realize that Israel is no longer a poor country which needs massive aid provided by Jews abroad.

"We have to stop thinking of the US Jews as those who give. The vast majority of resources and the money which are raised there (in the US) should be used to strengthen the young generation in the states."

The society raises funds estimated at US $1.2 billion annually, of which more than half goes to Israel.