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Goldmann Urges Caution on Issue of Jackson Amendment

May 7, 1974
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Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president of the World Jewish Congress, warned last night that if U.S. Soviet trade relations foundered over the issue of the Jackson Amendment “the result may be a total stoppage of aliya from Russia.” Speaking to reporters at Ben Gurion Airport on his arrival here for a visit. Dr. Goldmann, however, conceded that the Jackson legislation could possibly have the opposite effect and lead to a more liberal Russian policy on the Jewish question. “But it is a very serious gamble that may endanger aliya from Russia,” he said.

For that reason, Dr. Goldmann said he favored reaching some sort of compromise on the Jackson Amendment linking trade to Soviet emigration policies that the amendment’s supporters could accept. He also expressed the opinion that “there is no chance of an agreement with Syria without an agreement with Russia as well.” He said he did not believe the Syrians would reach a disengagement accord with Israel without Moscow’s involvement in it. “If Kissinger has reached an agreement with Gromyko on this–all to the good,” Dr. Goldmann said. “But if no such agreement was reached between the two it will be most difficult to reach disengagement.”

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