Bertrand Russell, the British philosopher whose exchange of letters with Soviet Premier Khrushchev on the subject of anti-Semitism in Russia made world headlines last week, told an Israeli newspaper correspondent in London that he did not believe the Premier was an anti-Semite.
In an interview with the Maariv London correspondent, Russell said: “I think there is a certain amount of anti-Semitism in Russia just as this is true about other countries. I don’t think anti-Semitism is widespread in Russia, but one cannot tell this for certain.”
He added it was clear there were anti-Semites in the Soviet Union “but I think Khrushchev is not one. ” Speaking with emphasis, he said also “personally I don’t think the Russian leaders are imbued with anti-Semitism. This may be found at the bottom of the social ladder.”
He said “I don’t think so” in reply to a question as to whether he thought there was any chance that the death sentences imposed on Russian Jews on conviction on charges of alleged economic crimes might be commuted to life imprisonment.
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