U.S. View on Soviet Jewry Development

The Reagan Administration had no comment Tuesday about a reported agreement by Soviet officials to allow Jewish emigrants to fly directly to Israel through Rumania.

But Department deputy spokesperson Phyllis Oakley made clear that the United States was against any policy forcing Soviet Jewish emigrants to go to Israel. “It is long-standing United States policy that Soviet Jews should be able to immigrate to the country of their choice,” Oakley said. “That remains our position.”

The Administration rejected a request from Israeli Premier Yitzhak Shamir, during his recent visit to Washington, that Soviet Jewish emigrants not be given refugee status which allows them to immigrate to the U.S.

Soviet Jews, all carrying visas to Israel, now emigrate from the USSR through Austria, where the majority decide to go to the U.S. and other countries rather than Israel.

Morris Abram, chairman of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry and of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, and Edgar Bronfman, president of the World Jewish Congress, during a visit to Moscow last weekend reportedly were told that the Soviets would permit the direct flights to Israel via Rumania.

Oakley did not comment on assurances the two Jewish leaders received for increased Jewish emigration.

“We’ve noticed that on several occasions during the past few months, both in public and in private, Soviet officials have said that the emigration level would rise in 1987.” she said. “By the end of March approximately 700 Jews will have arrived in the West this year. This is a good beginning, but there is still a long way to go. All who wish to leave the Soviet Union should be permitted to do so.”