The Board of Deputies of British Jews adopted yesterday a resolution stating “that the charges and trials are an attempt to intimidate those Jews in the Soviet Union wishing to exercise their fundamental rights under Soviet law and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” The resolution, adopted at a meeting of the Board, also expressed shock that the Soviet authorities “should resort to such reactionary measures as secret trials, aimed at creating an anti-Semitic atmosphere, because of the justifiable desire of Jewish citizens to have the opportunity to leave for the land of their choice.” Michael M. Fidler, Hoard president and Member of Parliament, told the meeting that the “fears we expressed at our last meeting about the trial in Leningrad have materialized. We have reason to believe that those now standing trial. Jew and non-Jew alike, face trumped-up charges in an endeavor to intimidate those Jews who had the courage to express attachment to their heritage to their people and a desire to go to Israel.” He observed that the charge of “hijacking” was significant because world opinion is sensitive to this term as a result of recent events.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
