Only 4000 Soviet Jews emigrating to Israel passed through Austria in Jan. and Feb. Amnon Lev, press attache of the Israeli Embassy in Vienna reported. In Oct. 1973 there were also 4000 Soviet Jews who stayed in Austria before going to Israel. Lev said that this is normal because the Soviet authorities usually issue less exit visas at the beginning of the year.
The emigrants are only allowed to stay for a short time at the aid station in Woellersdorf. (lower Austria) which by decision of the Austrian government replaced the special transit Schoenau camp north of Vienna.
The Austrian government promised to close the transit camp in Schoenau Castle in exchange for the release of three Jewish hostages and one Austrian customs officer seized by two Arab gunmen in Austria Sept. 28. The new transit camp is run by the Austrian branch of the International Red Cross. Lev said that the formalities connected with the emigration are still handled by the Jewish Agency.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
