A total of 16,048 Soviet Jews immigrated to Israel in May, about the same as the previous month.
But immigration officials here expect the number to swell considerably this month, as Jews rush to get out of the Soviet Union before new emigration regulations that arc likely to slow visa processing go into effect.
Soviet Jewish immigration to the United States also remained relatively constant, totaling 2,373 in May, compared to 2,17.1 in April, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society reported in New York.
The U.S. government would help pay for up to 40,000 Soviet Jews to come to the United States as refugees this fiscal year. But in the first eight months, only 13,474 have made it.
By contrast, the May figures bring Soviet Jewish immigration to Israel for the first five months of 1991 to 66,194, according to figures compiled by the Soviet Jewry Research Bureau of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry.
But the immigration scene in Israel was dominated last month by the arrival of more than 14,000 Ethiopian Jews in the Operation Solomon airlift May 24 and 25.
Those arrivals brought aliyah for the month to 31,774 new immigrants, according to the Jewish Agency for Israel.
There are about 200 Ethiopian Jews in Addis Ababa who were not able to get on the airlift, and an estimated 2,000 Jews still in the northwestern province of Gondar.
A public debate has started here about whether to arrange for the aliyah of Ethiopian Jews who converted to Christianity over the years and who now want to return to the fold. Their numbers may range from several thousands to several tens of thousands.
BUREAUCRATIC DELAYS EXPECTED
Unofficial estimates here say that 200,000 Soviet Jews are still expected to arrive this year, which is half of the figure projected at the beginning of the year. The drop is due to the Persian Gulf War and growing concern among prospective immigrants about the job and housing shortage in Israel.
About 80,000 Soviet Jews now hold visas for Israel but have delayed their departure because of problems anticipated in absorption.
Government officials here expect a considerable number of these people to make aliyah this month because of delays expected as a result of changes recently made in Soviet emigration regulations, some of which go into effect July 1.
As of that date, Soviet emitters will be issued passports and will not be forced to give up their citizenship when they leave. Emigrants also will be permitted to hold property in the Soviet Union.
Some people holding Israeli visas are expected to leave this month because of the delays and bureaucratic problems anticipated as the Soviet visa agency, OVIR, gears up for the change.
After July 1, officials here foresee a period of confusion and uncertainty, as Soviet Jews learn how the new regulations affect emigrants headed for Israel.
Other provisions of the new Soviet emigration law will not take effect until Jan. 1, 1993.
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