Report Three Cases of Soviet Jews Arrested, Jailed, Facing Trial

The continuing harassment of Soviet Jews, in and out of prison, was reported today by the Student Struggle for Soviet Jewry. The SSSJ said it learned from Jewish sources in the Soviet Union for the first time of one Jew who was imprisoned three years ago, of another who may soon be tried, and of a third who was arrested as he was about to board a plane at Moscow airport to go to Israel.

The latter was identified as Anatoly Glod, 39, a dentist who had an exit visa but was taken off the plane by Soviet police and charged with diamond smuggling. The incident occurred several weeks ago and Glod has since been sentenced to 15 years’ Imprisonment. It is believed that Glod’s trial took place in Moscow. A relative in Israel said he was completely innocent of the smuggling charges, the SSSJ reported.

The SSSJ said It also learned that the prosecutor in the Sverdlovsk region has been ordered to start proceedings against Leonid Zabelishensky al friend of Vladimir Markman who is serving a three-year sentence. Zabelishensky allegedly made anti-Soviet remarks while testifying at Markman’s trial in Sverdlovsk. He is to be tried under Art. 190 of the Soviet penal code which deals with slander of the Soviet Union.

The SSSJ said it learned for the first time that a Kishinev Jew, Yakov Stromwasser, has been in jail since Dec. 1969 when he was sentenced to three years’ Imprisonment for allegedly writing anonymous letters against the Soviet system.

A former Knesset member sympathetic to the Black Panthers, Mrs. Shulamit Aloni, said in Tel Aviv that the anti-establishment organization of slum youths may form a political party to run for Knesset seats next year “If they have enough money.”

Reminder: There will be no JTA Daily News Bulletin Monday, Oct. 23 due to Veterans Day.

IN BEHALF OF PRESIDENT NIXON

President Nixon’s approach to solution of areas such as welfare, inflation, and tax reform will be soundly based and structurally well thought out in contrast to the more impulsive and extreme proposals which have been offered and endlessly redefined by the McGovern campaign.

QUOTA SYSTEM AN ISSUE

Newsweek magazine called the quota system the “sleeper issue” of the 1972 campaign and this Is indeed true. Jews have suffered historically in Europe as well as In the US from quotas and who ever would have expected that the largest political party would have used such a system in such a dramatic and frightening manner? However, the delegates to the 1972 Democratic Convention as set up by the McGovern rules produced the most visible use of the quota system in recent American history. Senator McGovern’s statements since that time, on this subject, have consisted of a ritual denial that he believes in quotas but a reaffirmation to a variety of racial and ethnic groups that he would use proportional representation for federal patronage, Cabinet and sub-Cabinet appointments, etc.

These are Just some of the issues which have interested and concerned Jewish voters most. Obviously, other parts of foreign policy such as the withdrawal of over 500,000 troops from Vietnam and the opening relations with China are positive accomplishments. In a limited space not all issues can be fully discussed,

One major phenomenon can be noted. Most Jewish voters who will vote for President Nixon are Democrats. This is because they do not see the McGovern movement as representing the tradition and approach they have supported in the past. But with this–they also see President Nixon as a problem solver and an able and creative chief executive. With many other Democrats and Independents, Jewish voters will help re–elect the President–because on all the issues, the choice is better for America.