The anti-Jewish sentiments expressed by Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in his recent statement to the Paris newspaper Le Figaro were sharply denounced here last night by Moshe Sharett, former Premier of Israel, in an address at a mass meeting of immigrants from Russia held here.
Speaking in Russian, Mr. Sharett expressed astonishment that such statements as those in the Khrushchev interview in Le Figaro could be made by people who claimed to be the most progressive. He added that the Khrushchev statement actually demonstrated five points which refuted all assertions made by former Soviet leaders with regard to Jews under Communism.
Enumerating the five points, Mr. Sharett said they were: 1. Mr. Khrushchev in effect acknowledged the existence of a Jewish nation; 2. He indicated that the Jewish nation remained unique in its communal appearance; 3. He admitted that a Jewish problem exists in the Soviet Union; 4. He also admitted that the problem was not solved; 5. He acknowledged that the only solution of the Jewish problem was territorial concentration and national independence.
Mr. Sharett said that the situation of the Jews in the Soviet Union continued to deteriorate and that the refusal of the Russian Jews to assimilate was a “quiet protest” against their fate but at the same time constituted a source of danger.
The meeting called upon the Soviet Government to permit Jews to emigrate from the Soviet Union. At the same time, it demanded that Jews in Russia be permitted to maintain their own cultural and communal life. The rally also sent a message of greetings to Jews in the Soviet Union.
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