Speech #990005113

Speaker. is not good. In fact. the Plight of Soviet Jews has deteriorated to a new alltime low. During the past year. we have seen the constant harassment of Hebrew teachers and Jewish cultural activists. including a new wave of antiJewish trials. a new modern low for the number of Soviet Jews allowed to emigrate in a single year896with a monthy rate of less than 100 Jews emigrating. and an Increase In an already virulent antiSemitic campaign being spearheaded by the Soviet Unions AntiZionist Committee. Typical of the growing antiSemitism that is so prevalent in the Soviet Union was the airing last November of a documentary film entitled "Hirelings and Accomplices." By broadcasting this film on Leningrad television during prime viewing hours. the Soviet Government made it clear that they will stop at no lengths to discredit and alienate their refusenik communityJews who have been denied emigration on at least two occasions and who choose to publicize their refusal. Simply put. "Hirelings and Accomplices" sought to equate Soviet Jews who seek to emigrate to Israel with antiSoviet behavior. This was not a new theme. but the highly visible way in which it was projected to the Soviet People marked a new intensity in the Soviets antiSemitism campaign. Since the film chose to focus attention on four leading Jewish activists from Moscow and Leningrad.