Mr. President. Israel is in the midst of a historic effort to absorb 1 million refugees. The immigration of hundreds of thousands of Soviet Jews and the inspiring airlift of 15.000 Ethiopian Jews demonstrates a continuing commitment to the original version of Zionism: a nation for the ingathering of Jews from many nations. I support a program of United States loan guarantees to help Israel finance the absorption of this vast flood of new citizens. And I oppose linking this important humanitarian program to any political issue. United States loan guarantees are consistent with our long struggle to obtain freedom for Soviet Jewry. Free emigration has long been a cornerstone of our policy toward the Soviet Union. In fact. as early as the 19th century. Americans have intervened on behalf of Russian Jewry. This fight reflects our own national values. As a nation built of immigrants. we understand the dream of building a better life for our children in a new land. For many years. our success was measured one individual and one family at a time. Today. planeloads are arriving daily.
Keywords matched
immigration immigrants emigration refugees