Speech #990005089

I join my colleagues in drawing attention to the continued oppression and JSE 2909 harassment of Jews in the Soviet Union. For the Jews of the Soviet Union. 1984 often seemed as dismal and discouraging as a long Siberian winter. The Soviets have not only brought a halt to emigration. they have also made every step in the long visa process more frustrating and difficult. Soviet authorities require that every Soviet Jew who wishes to emigrate must obtain an official invitation from a firstdegree relative in Israel. The Soviets only place parents. children. and spouses in this firstdegree category. and exclude aunts. uncles. cousins. and even siblings. Officials routinely confiscate such invitations from the mail and many of those who do receive invitations find they have been arbitrarily barred from submitting requests for exit visas. Jews categorized as refuseniks are increasingly treated as outcasts from Soviet society. Separated from their families and from Israel. they have been forced to wait indefinitely for permission to leave with no assurance that they will. in fact. ever receive it.