Resettling 10,000 Soviet Jews Could Cost Israel $220 Million

The Israeli Cabinet on Sunday discussed a possible influx of Jews from the Soviet Union and was advised that it would cost about $220 million to settle 10,000 newcomers, officials said.

Immigration Minister Yaacov Tzur told reporters after the three-hour Cabinet session that the cost estimate was part of a contingency plan for accommodating Soviet Jews.

“I think we can see very important changes in Russia and its relationship toward Israel and the Jewish question,” Tzur said.

“(Large-scale) immigration is not yet a fact, but on the other hand, we have to prepare ourselves.”

Morris B. Abram and Edgar M. Bronfman, two American Jewish leaders who held talks with Soviet officials in Moscow, said last week that the Kremlin was ready to ease its emigration policy and allow 11,000 Jews to leave.

A communique said the Cabinet will continue its discussion on assimilation of eventual Soviet immigrants after further study.

The 25-member Cabinet was united on the need to make preparations, Tzur said, but divided on whether to seek a broader dialogue with the Soviet Union.

“I think we have to take the initiative to try to expand the Soviet political changes and be ready to discuss with the Russians an international conference on Middle East peace,” said Tzur, a member of Foreign Minister Shimon Peres’ Labor party.

An aide to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir, leader of Israel’s right-wing Likud Bloc and a foe of an international peace conference, said Shamir believes it would be a mistake to link the emigration question with political issues.

Chaim Aharon, head of the immigration department of the quasi-official Jewish Agency, which shares responsibility for new arrivals, said his agency was working “20 hours a day” to put together a plan on helping Soviet emigres.

Tzur said it would cost about $3,000 to settle each new Soviet immigrant in the first year.