Poland and Rumania have ceased issuing exit visas for Jews desiring to immigrate to Israel, it was reported here today, while Yugoslavia indicated that the authorities there insist on a revision of the Yugoslav-Israeli trade agreement before granting some 5,000 Jewish applicants their pending exit visas.
The Polish authorities closed down the Palestine Office and informed the Zionist Organization that it will no longer be allowed to freely organize Jewish immigration to Israel. Local Zionist leaders were told that the Polish Government would negotiate directly with Israel on all matters dealing with the transfer of Jewish goods while the present practice of the Zionist Organization of handling immigration at its own discretion would have to stop.
In Rumania, the discontinuing of issuing exit visas for Jews came after the Jewish Communist Party there renewed its demand to have the sole right to pick the Jews to be allowed to immigrate to Israel. The same request was made three months ago and rejected by the Israeli authorities who deal with migration.
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