Mr. President. when I was in Israel a few months ago. I was privileged to meet a former Soviet geophysicist who had just recently emigrated to Israel. and now lives at Kibbutz Kfar Blum. This mans deep appreciation for life in a free land made a powerful impression on me. and strengthened my resolve to do what I can to help Soviet Jews who wish to emigrate. During my uplifting visit to Kfar Blum. members of the community expressed their concern for the Leonid Yusefovich family of Moscow. Leonid and his family had applied to emigrate in 1980. Their determination to join family members in Israel was so great that Leonid suffered through a 36day hunger strike last spring. Like many Soviet Jews. Leonid Yusefovich was willing to pay a very high price for freedom. In this particular case. his suffering was not in vain. I was informed on Monday that Leonid. his wife and their young children have received permission to emigrate. Mr. President. the happy resolution of the Yusefovich case gives me hope that the spirit of glasnost will mean eventual freedom for the thousands of Soviet Jews who wish to emigrate. There are encouraging signsprisoners of conscience have been released. exit visas have been granted to some prominent refuseniks. and there has been an increase in the overall level of emigration. But. while progress has been made in some areas. it is also true that harassment of activists continues. and the Soviet Government continues to ignore its obligations under the Helsinki accords. So.
Keywords matched
emigrate emigration emigrated visas