As in the case of the 18 families who petitioned the United Nations. these people have braved the possibilities of retaliation and reprisal in order to focus worldwide attention on the plight of the Jew in the Soviet Union. We must help these unfortunate people. We must do what we can to impress upon the Soviet Union that they have nothing to fear if they allow the pitifully small number of Jews still living in the Soviet Union to emigrate. Perhaps the reason why the Soviet Government will not issue exit visas is concern over the reaction of the Arab world. If this is the case. as I believe it is. it is not worthy of a great nation. The Soviet Union must be convinced that it is better politics to do the right thing. the human thing. than to appease the desires of a group of nations who have sworn to destroy Israel. They must be convinced that the world will hold them accountable for their refusal to either grant religious freedom to the Jews or to permit them to emigrate. Mr. Speaker. my resolution is designed to help focus world attention on the plight of the Soviet Jew. It is my hope that it will act as a catalyst insofar as world opinion is concerned. that it will direct world attention to the oppressive and discriminatory manner in which the Soviet Union treats her Jewish population. It would express the sense of the Congress that the President instruct the permanent U.S. representative to the United Nations to place the plea of the 18 Jewish families on the agenda of the General Assembly. My resolution would also request the President to do what he deems advisable to urge the Soviet Union to restore full religious freedom to the Jews in the Soviet Union. and above all. to convince them to change their emigration policies. Mr. Speaker. in the cause of freedom and humanity throughout the world.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration visas