Prof. Yuval Nee-man, president of Tel Aviv University and chairman of the Israeli scientists’ committee against the Soviet “ransom tax,” contended here that the Israeli government was not bringing sufficient pressure on the Soviet government to abolish the exit fees for educated emigrants.
Neeman, returning from a scientific conference in Washington, said the Kremlin was in great need of the wide-scale scientific cooperation planned by the United Stated and would be sensitive to demands for abolition of the tax in return for the pacts. But Neeman said it was his impression that the US was continuing with preparations for the agreements without consideration of the fee issue. He said he had discussed this point at the White House.
Shmuel Divon, an Israeli Foreign Ministry official, said in reaction that the US was one of many governments Israel had asked to intervene on the exit fees, and was one of those that preferred to handle the matter diplomatically. The US, he said, was fully aware of the importance Israel attaches to this matter.
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