Speech #970144772

Jews in the Soviet Union find themselves in a catch22 situation. The Governments antiSemitic policies and practices threaten their economic. physical. and emotional security. As discrimination continues to increase. more and more Soviet Jews see emigration as the only viable means of selfpreservation. Yet. the chances of obtaining an exit visa are growing smaller every day. Although the Soviet Union does not recognize the right of its citizens to emigrate. the Soviet Government has sporadically allowed Jews to leave under a policy of family reunification. The Soviet Government controls the ebb and flow of Jews to Israel and other countries in the West through a variety of administrative practices and restrictions which are placed on the application process. As more and more restrictions have been imposed in the last 2 years. Jewish emigration has decreased dramatically. In 1979 a record level 51.320 Jews were allowed to leave. In 1980 the number plummeted to 21.471. and in 1981. only 9.447 Jews were allowed to emigrate. 1982 appears to have brought no change in this trend. In January only 290 Jews were allowed to leave the Soviet Union. This monthly figure is the lowest since 1970. Moreover. the Helsinki Commission estimates that the figure for February 1982 will be approximately the same. As these figures indicate. emigration is no longer a means by which Soviet Jews can escape the frightening and discriminatory policies and practices of the Soviet Government. Mr. President. for many years I have worked to try to alleviate the plight of Soviet Jews and to force the Soviet Union to grant basic human rights and fundamental freedoms to all of its citizens.