Israel Sharply Hikes Immigration of Soviet Jews

Israel announced Friday that it is using every available plane and even allowing flights on the Jewish Sabbath to bring in a new wave of Soviet Jews fearing political turmoil in their homeland.

The daily rate of Soviet Jewish immigration to Israel--already at its highest level in decades--has nearly doubled in the last three days, from about 800 to more than 1,500, officials said. Between Thursday and Sunday, they expect arrivals to total about 6,000.

“No doubt the growing wave is, in part, a response to the worsening situation in the Soviet Union and the debilitation of the government,” said Simcha Dinitz, chairman of the Jewish Agency, which oversees immigration.

Apprehensions grew after Soviet Foreign Minister Eduard A. Shevardnadze resigned Thursday.

Dinitz also cited the continuing economic crisis in the Soviet Union and improved transportation arrangements as reasons behind the latest rush of immigrants.

“This wonderful operation is possible because many, almost 50%, are arriving to the transit points overland by train, by bus, by taxi and also by bicycle,” Dinitz told Israel television.

Officials said many Soviet Jews have been holding exit visas for two to three months waiting for plane tickets but chose to come any way they could this week because of the growing tensions.

Several Soviet Jews arriving Friday at Ben Gurion International Airport said they fear that the liberal emigration policies of Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev may soon end.

Transportation Minister Moshe Katzav gave special permission to maintain the airlift over the weekend. Flying violates the Jewish Sabbath, the biblical day of rest that runs from sundown Friday until sundown Saturday.

Three El Al planes headed Friday night for transit points in Warsaw, Bucharest and Budapest and were to return early Saturday with 750 Soviet immigrants. Four more planes are scheduled to fly today to the European points to pick up more immigrants, El Al spokesman Nachum Kleinman said.

At least 160,000 Soviet Jews have arrived in Israel in 1990.