War is not the only danger to a healthy Israel. Economic disaster can accomplish what war could not. if we let it. A country the size of Israel. with its heavy defense burdens. cannot afford the several hundred million dollars that will be required for the anticipated influx of Soviet Jews over and above Israels normal budget for immigrantsand Israel has already spent enormous sums in recent years receiving and integrating hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Middle Eastern countries. For all these reasons. therefore. we must be prepared to help Israel cope with the new influx of Soviet Jewish refugees. Since proposing such assistance last January. I have asked my staff to explore the best possible means of providing it. We have consultated with Members and staff in both Houses of Congress. with the Department of State which administers current refugee programs. and with many individuals and groups outside the Government who are most familiar with the present situation. The result of these consultations is the legislation being introduced today. First. the bill we are introducing today is bipartisan.
Keywords matched
refugee immigrantsand refugees