Speech #1010138969

Speaker. I should like to commend the Greater New York Coalition for Soviet Jewry and other Jewish organizations for keeping the problems of Soviet Jewry in the political and public forefront through important activities such as the Rally of Response/Solidarity Sunday which took place at the United Nations on April 1. 1990. Under Mikhail Gorbachevs policies of glasnost. advances have been made in the areas of wider emigration rights for Soviet Jews. release of major longterm refuseniks. and sanctioning of Jewish cultural and religious activities. In 1989. 12.915 Soviet Jewish emigrants arrived in Israel. In just the first 2 months of 1990. that number has already reached 10.569. In all. over 1 million Soviet Jews have begun the emigration process to leave the Soviet Union. Israel needs the help of its friends and supporters In the United States and elsewhere in order to settle successfully and assimilate this large influx of immigrants. While there is a growing fear of antiSemitism among Jews in the Soviet Union. Arab States continue to pressure the Kremlim to scale back the Soviet Jewish exodus to Israel. Raising public awareness about the ongoing needs of Soviet Jews is instrumental to ensuring that the advances made for Soviet Jews under the policies of Mikhail Gorbachev are retained in spite of pressure from the Arab nations. There is a corresponding need to keep the problems and concerns of Soviet Jewish emigration and general United States policy toward Israel in the United States political forefront. especially in light of President Bushs recent remarks about East Jerusalem. which have confused both the American public and its decisionmakers regarding our policy towad Israel. I strongly support the right of all Jews in the Soviet Union and anywhere in the world to freely emigrate to Israel and other countries in which they are allowed to live. work. and worship without fear. intimidation. or discrimination. I encourage the Government of the Soviet Union to continue its current positive policies on Jewish emigration. I take this opportunity to applaud the efforts of the Greater New York Coalition for Soviet Jewry. the Jewish Community Relations Council. the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. the Simon Wiesenthal Center. and the United Jewish AppealFederation of Jewish Philanthropies of New York. for keeping the needs of Soviet Jewish emigrants to Israel and other countries. including the United States. in the political and public forefront.