We keep hearing that the exit tax has been suspended. that more and more Jews are being permitted to leave Russia now than ever before. However. there is little tangible proof of these assertions. And further. there are reports coming from the Soviet Union of increasing numbers of arbitrary refusals of permission to emigrate. It is sad to have to repeat the same thing so many times. but in this case it is necessary to make sure that my point is taken. It is still a dangerous thing to be a Jew in Russia. particularly if you are a Jew who wants to leave for Israel. The newest game the Russian officials are playing is refusing to grant visas on the false ground of "national security." More often than not. the security excuse is one that has been drummed up to give a patently arbitrary refusal the cloak of legitimacy. in response to pressure from concerned people in the United States. The Russians are aware that they are being carefully scrutinized and they are taking great pains not to antagonize the United States. It has been said before. and will be again. that the Russians need us more than we need them.
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emigrate visas