Despite pleas from the highest places in the Governments of Israel and the United States. the Government of Austria has declared firm its intention to close the Schoenau Castle transit camp in Vienna. Certainly there was a deep concern expressed. by Austrian authorities over the safety of hostages held by Arab terrorists in the Schoenau incident. I think. however. that the concern expressed and the Austrian Government action which followed failed to take into account the always slow. perennially bitter struggle Soviet Jews have endured to acquire the human right to emigrate. The frustration of persecution and setback is not a new experience for the Jewish people attempting to leave the Soviet Union for migration to Israel. But the conduct of Austrian officials. in light of a previous record of understanding and cooperation with the immigrants. is difficult to comprehend at this time. The struggle for freedom is never an easy task and no people know the daytoday facts better than the colony of Soviet Jews attempting a return to their native soil. It is unfortunate that lessons of history. even in the short span of time from World War II. are so quickly forgotten.
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emigrate immigrants