Israel seamen who spent eight days in Odessa where their ship the S.S. Nachahon recently delivered the first Israeli citrus fruit shipment of the season, today reported that 15 Jews over the age of 60 with relatives in Israel have received Soviet exit visas to go to Israel.
The seamen, who were permitted to travel about in Odessa as they pleased, said that they had gained the impression that the Jews they met in the Black Sea port city would have liked to come to Israel, Although they said nothing directly about this, they often greeted the Israelis with the traditional phrase: “Next Year in Jerusalem.”
When the vessel arrived in port, Soviet officials spent four hours searching the vessel, including the personal belongings of the sailors. Thereafter three Soviet soldiers remained on guard on the ship. The seamen visited, among other places, the ballet and the theatre.
Five aged Jews arrived at Haifa yesterday from Poland. They travelled via Italy and three others who began the journey with them became ill and were hospitalized in Italy. The five applied for exit visas from Poland four years ago and received them two months ago.
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