Soviets Plan to Renew Israeli Ties, Rabbi Says
A Soviet diplomat told an American Jewish leader’s aide that he believes Moscow will restore diplomatic relations with Israel in February and dramatically increase the number of Jews allowed to leave the Soviet Union for Israel, it was reported today.
Rabbi Marvin Hier, dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center in Los Angeles, told the New York Times that the Soviet diplomat, whom he did not identify, initiated the Washington luncheon meeting.
Hier said the diplomat told the rabbi’s aide that he “thinks” there will be full diplomatic relations between Israel and the Soviet Union in February--before that month’s Communist Party congress. He also said more Jews would be granted exit visas. The aide was not identified.
Hier said the Israeli Embassy in Washington was informed of the conversation, but officials there adopted a wait-and-see attitude.
The Israelis said the Soviet diplomat, who is officially listed as one of many first secretaries in the embassy, is a known KGB agent who has specialized in Jewish affairs.
The Israelis speculated the diplomat would not have talked to the Jewish leader unless the KGB had been informed, Hier said.
Israeli officials said they were waiting for a more constructive approach to reconciliation between the two countries.
The Soviet Union broke diplomatic relations with Israel after the 1967 Middle East war.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
