I am pleased to join Senator TSONGAS in sponsoring a Senate concurrent resolution which expresses the grave concern of the Congress regarding the plight of Ethiopian Jews. The House Foreign Affairs Committee will soon consider an identical resolution by Congressman SOLARz and I will urge that the Foreign Relations Committee schedule speedy consideration of the resolution. Approximately 25.000 Ethiopian Jews are presently in Ethiopia and in neighboring refugee camps. They are descendants of a community which once numbered several hundred thousand. One of the oldest continuous Jewish communities in existence. with a heritage dating back 3.000 years. its survival is today threatened by war. pestilence. famine and neglect. Many of the Ethiopian Jewsthe Falashaswant to emigrate. and need help to do SO. Through the work of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews and other concerned groups and individuals. many people are becoming aware of the critical state of this precious community of Jews. The AAEJ has also played a leading role in garnering support for increased U.S assistance to the victims of the drought now plaguing Ethiopia.
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emigrate refugee