Russian Jews cool to Sharon's call to emigrate

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, SEPT. 6. The Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Ariel Sharon, used his visit to Moscow to urge Russian Jews to emigrate to Israel, but met with a lukewarm response.

Mr. Sharon told representatives of Russia's Jewish community in Moscow on Wednesday that the best way to help Israel in its conflict with Arabs would be for Jews to come to live in Israel.

``If you can't come yourself, send your children to Israel, we need another million Jews,'' Mr. Sharon said at a reception at a Jewish cultural centre on Wednesday.

However, the appeal drew only thin applause, and the Israeli leader conceded that Jews ``are well-off in Russia''.

More than a million Jews emigrated to Israel from the former Soviet Union, but the flow dwindled down after Russians were allowed to emigrate to any country, not just Israel.

``Russians'', as they are called in Israel, now make up around one sixth of the total population and have emerged as an important political force, with their own political parties and Cabinet Ministers.

In an interview in Moscow Mr. Sharon recognised a key role of Russian Jews in boosting Israel's intellectual potential.

``We would have never reached such heights in technology had it not been for immigration from Russia. We are now about the second best in technology after the USA,'' Mr. Sharon said.

``The children of Russian immigrants are also the best at school in mathematics and physics.

We are inviting more migrants to come and I hope we'll draw another million people.''

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Section  : International
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