Five hundred and sixty Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union–a record number for a single day–landed yesterday at Lod Airport. Immigration authorities said a total of 3600 immigrants are expected by the end of Nov., a record for a single month.
They disclosed that the immigrants arriving from Russia via Bucharest were mainly Jews from Besserabia, a former Rumanian province annexed by the Soviet Union after World War II. The immigrants told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency that about 500 Jews visit the ovir (visa office) in their province every day to try to get exit visas. They said Jews leaving Russia via Rumania must undergo very strict customs inspection before they cross the border.
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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.