German officials are in a dilemma and the Jewish community has been embarrassed by some 300 Soviet Jews who came to Berlin from Israel and refuse to return there.
They cannot claim refugee status, because they carry Israeli identity papers and, for all practical purposes, are citizens of Israel, where they immigrated last year from the Soviet Union.
Municipal officials are saying they have no choice but to take care of them, because they will not change their minds.
But Jewish community leaders say allowing them to stay would set a dangerous precedent.
For one thing, it could prejudice the visa applications other Jews are making at German consulates in the Soviet Union, they told a local radio station over the weekend.
Heinz Galinski, leader of the German Jewish community, has tried to convince them to return to Tel Aviv. He said their behavior is jeopardizing German-Israeli relations and doing harm to the German-Jewish community, but to no avail.
The Soviet Jews say they left Israel when the Persian Gulf war started in January to escape Iraqi missile attacks. Beyond that they have complaints about Israel and say they will not return.
Some members say they were mistreated. Some accuse the Israeli authorities of forcing newcomers to settle in the administered territories. Others says Israel did not offer job opportunities for them and their families.
One woman said she spoke a little German and could master the language quickly, whereas she had no desire or ability to study Hebrew, which is completely unfamiliar to her.
Some members of the group expressed an affinity for German culture. Others said they were used to Europe’s temperate climate and could not take Israel’s hot weather.
Galinski angrily dismissed the complaints and called their accusations unjustified.
STRAIN ON ISRAELI-GERMAN TIES
The situation presents a delicate issue for German-Israeli relations. At Israel’s prodding, Germany has adopted a restrictive immigration policy toward Soviet Jews.
While those who arrived here up to last month will be allowed to remain, no more will be admitted unless they formally apply for visas at German consulates in the Soviet Union. Only applicants who can prove German ethnic background or who have relatives in Germany will be accepted.
The policy was affirmed with Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy when he visited Bonn a week ago.
The Israelis are touchy about Soviet Jews who show preference for other countries. They blame those countries for offering inducements.
The Israelis reportedly advised the Germans to make clear to the Soviet Jews that they have no chance for legal status in Germany or access to financial or social assistance.
“This in itself would convince them to board planes to Tel Aviv,” an Israeli official was quoted as saying.
But according to German diplomatic quarters here and in Berlin, there are no plans to evacuate the 300 Jews by force.
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