Leningrad Sentences Condemned Throughout the World
Few in Israel took seriously the
The gesture had been called for -
by Histadrut, whose secretary gen- assertion by Meir Wilner, leader of
eral, Yitzhak Ben Aharon, visited Israel's pro-Moscow Rakach Com-
the Finnish Embassy in Tel Aviv munist Party, that be bad "every
with a note of protest to Moscow reason to assume that the Soviet
on behalf of the union's million authorities would commute the
members. Finland handles Soviet death sentences" of two of the Len-
ingrad accused. Wilner, a Knesset
affairs in Israel.
member, made that statement at
Various organizations in Israel a meeting in Haifa of the Young
affiliated with world bodies con- Communist League. He justified
tinued to urge the government to the Leningrad trial, taking the
intervene with Soviet authorities
Moscow line that the accused were
on behalf of the Leningrad de- tried not because they are Jews
fendants. The Israel Farmers Fed- but because they committed a
eration and the Histadrut Agricul-
criminal offense.
tural Center appealed to the In-
President Zalman Shazar appeal-
ternational Farmers Organization
in Paris. The Israel Medical Asso- ed to Kremlin leaders over the
ciation sent a similar appeal to Israel Radio to commute the death
the American Medical Association sentences in the Leningrad trial
in New York. The executive of the and to permit Soviet Jews to emi-
Women's International Zionist Or- grate to Israel. He said it was
ganization cabled its protest to the especially cynical of the Soviet
Soviet Women's Committee in authorities to pronounce sentence
on Christmas Eve when they knew
Moscow.
that the Christian world was
The Israeli branch of Amnesty celebrating.
International complained to the
Prayers for the Leningrad prison-
organization's headquarters in Lon-
don against its decision not to or- ers were voiced by a group of
Dominican
monks in the Church
ganize a general protest against
the Leningrad sentence but to let of the Holy Sepulchre in East Jeru-
salem.
A
group
of 27 Roman Cath-
each national section file its own
protest. Amnesty International is olics from the United States, visit-
a private organization that inter- ing Jerusalem for Christmas, sent
venes on behalf of political prison- a letter to the Jerusalem Post
stating, "We Roman Catholic
ers around the world.
priests, brothers, sisters and lay
More than UAW shouting, fist- teachers wish to join the Jewish
shaking demonstrators jammed community in what we hope will
Tel Aviv Qty Hall Square Sun- be a world-wide protest against
day night, burned a red flag and the latest demonstration of Soviet
cheered when Premier Golds inhumanity."
Meir told them: "We • believe
Archbishop Joseph Raya, head
that the day will come when our of the Greek Catholic community
brethren will come not only from here, sccred the trial and sentences
the free world but from behind Friday as "awful" and "terrible."
the Iron Curtain. The day will He said he was praying that "The
come when this iron gate too will Almighty 'enlighten the minds of
fall." —
the Soviet leaders so that the
The mass rally was typical of the death sentences will not be carried
fury and emotion that swept over out."
The Russian Orthodox Church
Israel after the Leningrad 11 were
sentenced. The anger of the Israelis Mission in Jerusalem, which is con-
was fanned by news that at least trolled from Moscow, turned down
20 more Russian Jews will go on a request from Religious Affairs
trial shortly in Leningrad, Riga Minister Zerach Warhaftig. to con-
vey a letter to Premier Kosygin.
and Kishinev.
He said his church was not poli-
"We have not come to beg for tical and could not perform a
mercy for the Jews sentenced in political task.
Leningrad. We demand justice,"
Foreign Minister Abba Eban said
Mrs. Meir declared. "News of this
sentence, this mockery of the very on a radio broadcast Friday night
that
Israel has approached 10 for-
concept cf law has reached all
corners of the world," she said. eign governments at the highest
level
to intervene on behalf of the
"On behalf of the government of
Israel and the Jewish people we Leningrad accused. Eban said,
tell those who are detained and "What took place this Christmas in
those already sentenced that it is Leningrad is an event of historical
as though this entire people were dimensions that can be compared
with them at that trial." Mrs. Meir with another trial in Paris many
was heard by the thousands in the years ago (the Dreyfus trial)." He
square and thousands more packed said the Leningrad sentences
into side streets and on rooftops "should serve as a test to the
and balconies. The City Hall facade world's conscience that will no
was covered with a huge banner doubt find expression in the face
proclaiming "Let My People Go." of the cruelty that has come to
That theme was echoed in the light in this trial." Eban declared
chants of the crowd and on the that while in the past "the libera-
thousands of smaller placards and tion of Soviet Jewry was only con-
sidered possible, it has now become
banners they brandished.
inevitable."
(The official Soviet news agency
In an unprecedented manifesta-
Tass dismissed the Israeli reaction
to the sentences as "another fit of tion of unity between government
anti-Soviet hysteria." Tass charged and opposition here, the Knesset
that "Zionist circles" were "inter- unanimously adopted on Friday a
fering with Soviet judicial proce- resolution urging revocation of the
dure" and claimed that interna- two Leningrad death sentences,
tional criticism of the sentences but the Rakach Communists were
"actually is masterminded by Is- absent.
Jewish and non-Jewish leaders
rael" to divert attention from the
"sinister doings" of the Israelis. in the New York metropolitan area
cated to some observers that the and across the nation denounced
appeals reportedly filed by defense the Soviet authorities.
counsel on behalf of the Leningrad
A 100-hour vigil began near the
defendants have little chance of Soviet Mission in New York. The
success.)
vigil is being coordinated by the
(Continued from Page 1)
dow of Intourist, the Soviet na-
the least our government can do tional tourist agency, was broken
is to protest in the most direct when a stone was flung at it by
an unknown person. Shortly after
terms."
The White House and the State the incident, the Jewish Defense
Committee
issued a statement
Department spokesman Robert J.
McCloskey said: "In light of the claiming responsibility for the in-
cident
and
vowed
that it would
severity of the sentences handed
down at the trial, this matter has continue its anti-Soviet campaign.
While Pope Paul VI offered his
received serious consideration in
Washington. We have taken steps traditional Christmas speech and
blessing to the crowds in St. Peter's
which we hope will be helpful."
Sharply worded denunciations Square, some 40 Italian Jews
and disavowals came from demonstrated silently against So-
three unexpected sources — the viet anti-Semitism. They displayed
British, French and Italian Com- signs in Italian stating, "freedom
munist parties. In Paris, the for Jews," and distributed leaflets
Communist Party declared in its denouncing the death sentences.
newspaper, •'Humanite, that Spokesmen for the group said the
"the extreme severity of the ver- demonstration was not aimed at
dict appeared to be out of pro- the Pope but to reach people from
portion with the facts." The various countries attending the
newspaper said it was to be re- Christmas services.
Congressman William Broom-
gretted that the motives for such
field of Oakland County made a
an important verdict at Lenin-
statement on Soviet Jewry on
grad had not been made public
the floor of the House Tuesday.
and the trial had been held
"The treatment of Soviet Jews
practically in private. "Further-
more," it stated, "if they merit- and the abduction of a Lithuanian
ed such a punishment, It is essen- sailor from a U. S. vessel require
tial to explain clearly why." . a major reassessment of the con-
The British Communist Party fidence that the United States can
expressed dissatisfaction with the place in negotiations with the So-
verdict and appealed to Moscow viet Union," he said.
Broomfield, a member of the
to commute the sentences, predict-
ing that "many friends of the House Foreign Affairs Committee,
Soviet Union would be gravely said the severity of the Leningrad
concerned" if they were carried edntences as meant to "intimi-
date Soviet Jews and test world
out.
opinion. It was a thinly veiled
In a Sunday editorial. the Italian warning to the estimated 100,000
Communist Party newspaper, Soviet Jews now seeking to emi-
L'Unita, called the death sentences grate to Israel," he said.
"unbelievable" and noted they
"Lest the world dismiss these
were for a crime "which had not
been carried out—and this is juri- actions as limited to the persecu-
tion
of the Jewish people, let us
dically grave." It expressed a hope
that the sentences would "not be not forget the recent tragic abduc-
tion
of
a Lithuanian sailor from a
carried out"
U. S. Coast Guard vessel.
Dr. Nahum Goldmann, president
"These incidents are a warning
of the World Jewish Congress, sent
telegrams of protest to Soviet more graphic than all the Soviet
Union President Nikolai Podgorny, propaganda pronouncements that
Foreign Minister Andrei Gromyko, the dignity and freedom of indivi-
and a number of Soviet ambassa- duals and individual nations must
dors in Western capitals, asking always be subordinate to the wel-
them to intervene for the "com- fare of the Soviet state."
Broomfield said these events
mutation of the death sentences
and for the release of all prison- coupled with the continuing Soviet
ers." Dr. Goldmann tried unsuc- buildun in Egypt should lead to
cessfully to telephone Soviet lead- a major reassessment of U. S.
ers from London to plead for confidence in Soviet intentions.
• • • •
clemency for the Leningrad Jews.
A spokesman for Dr. Goldmann
TEL AVIV (JTA)—"I wish to
told newsmen that the Jewish send from this courtroom Hanuka
leader was told that the Soviet greetings to all my brethren in Is-
officials were all away from Mos- rael." Those words were spoken
cow for the weekend.
by Anatoly Altman, one of the 11
As 1,000 persons in Brussels defendants in the Leningrad trial,
demonstrated in protest against the when he *as asked by the court
Leningrad verdict, the Belgian if he had anything to say before
government formally asked the sentence was pronounced last
Soviet government to commute the Thursday, according to the news-
two death sentences. The Belgian paper Yediot Ahronot. Altman was
foreign ministry said the govern- sentenced to 12 years' imprison-
ment intervened with the Soviet ment for his part in an alleged
authorities as "the interpreter of hijacking attempt for which two
public opinion in Belgium."
co-defendants, Mark Dymshitz and
In Switzerland, the Geneva-based Edvard Kuznetsov, received the
International Commission of Jur- death penalty and the others
ists sent a telegram to the Supreme prison terms of 4-15 years.
Soviet urging clemency "in view
According to the Israeli news-
of the tragic events suffered by paper, its account of the dramatic
the Jewish people in our time" and final minutes of the Leningrad
criticized the Soviet authorities for trial was obtained by telephone
not publishing full information on from an unidentified Moscow Jew.
the trial. Writer Friedrich Duerren- The report said that when Altman
matt and other leading Swiss in- made his statement, all of the
tellectuals also voiced their protest other accused and their relatives
against the sentences and called who were in the courtroom stood
on Soviet authorities to "annul the up and sang, "Am Yisrael Hai"
sentences and order a 'retrial at- and recited the prayer, Shema
tended by international observers." Yisrael. They were silenced by
Protests also mounted in the guards on orders from the bench,
Scandinavian countries. Two hun- according to the informant. But
dred demonstrators in Stockholm when the prisoners were being re-
staged a torchlight parade to the moved from the courtroom, Silva
Soviet Embassy, where they pre- Zalmanson Kuznetsov, who was
sented a letter demanding the sentenced to 10 years for her part
relase of the "Leningrad 11." In in the hijack plot, shouted, "If I Happy Yule Provided for Christians in Israel
JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israeli the occupied territories on relief
Copenhagen, a group of Danish forget thee, Jerusalem, let my
politicians, writers and clergymen right hand forget its cunning." She authorities made special efforts to received an extra Christmas bonus
expressed their shock in cables sent is the wife of Edvard Kuznetsov, assure Christian citizens and visi- and a gift of foodstuffs.
to.Soviet Premier Alexsei Kosygin. who was sentenced to death.
The Jewish National Fund dis-
tors of a merry Christmas this
The Jewish Youth Organizations
tributed over 1,000 Christmas trees
Israel went silent at la o'clock
of Scandinavia registered their out- Tuesday morning as a two-min- year. The post office designed a to Christian residents of Jerusalem
rage with officials in the Soviet ute blast on sirens in every city, special holiday postmark for let- and Tel Aviv.
embassies in Denmark, Sweden town and village brought traffic ters mailed from Bethlehem on
Special arrangements were made
and Norway.
and all other activities to a halt Dec. 24.
to televise and film the Midnight
The Israeli Police Band per- Mass at the Church of the Nativity.
In Marseilles, France, three in a national gesture of protest
formed throughout the day in Beth- The closed circuit TV set-up was
Jewish students began a hunger against the sentences on Jews
lehem's Manger Square, where for the benefit of the thousands of
strike. In Paris, the display win- in Leningrad.
four choirs from the United States worshipers who were unable to
40—Friday; Jeavaif 1; 1971
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS I sang Christmas carols. Families in enter the packed shrine.
Ecumenical Council Against Reli-
gious Persecution, Betar, the Jew-
ish Defense League and the Ha-
vura. The Student Struggle for
Soviet Jewry sponsored a protest
march Dec. 28 through Times
Square. The marchers carried a
Moot Hanuka menora. In
Washington, over the weekend,
some 300 Jews demonstrated in
front of the Soviet Embassy. They
burned a Soviet flag and carried
a scaffold with a Jewish prayer
shawl hung through a noose. On
Christmas Eve, five members of
the JDL and two others were ar-
rested after they eluded police
barriers at the Soviet Mission in
New. York and made their way to
the upper terraces of the Park
East. Synagogue across the street.
The Jewish activists, led by JDL
chairman Rabbi Meir Kahane,
shouted threats and slogans at the
consulate and chanted in Hebrew,
Larry Fine, JDL executive direc-
tar, said the group had "taken pos-
session" of the synagogue, and
added but declined to elaborate
that "no Russian individuals or in-
stallations in this city" were safe
from JDL "from now on." The
New York police were instructed
by officials to prevent any demon-
strations at the Soviet and Polish
offices and to be on guard to pre-
vent "any damage or unlawful
trespassing."
About 500 Jews carrying placards
and shouting slogans demonstrated
in front of the Montreal Soviet Con-
sulate in protest of the Leningrad
trials. For the first time in the
history of the Montreal Jewish
community, Sabbath restrictions
were waived so that all the Jews
who wished to attend the rally
could do so.
In Sao Paulo, the Brazilian Jew-
ish Confederation, representing all
Brazilian Jewish communities,
cabled UN Secretary General U
Thant asking him to make the So-
viet government aware that "the
recent trial in Leningrad repre-
sents a flagrant violation of the
Universal Declaration of the Rights
of Man," and insisted that the ver-
dict be annulled "in obedience to
the fundamental principles of right
and justice." The cable was signed
by Moyses Kaufman, confedera-
tion president.
A leader of American Jewish
protests against the treatment of
Russian Jews told the Jewish Tele-
graphic Agency that he thought the
pressure of public opinion played
a major role in the State Depart-
ment's affirmative decision on the
claim for American citizenship
filed by a 30-year-old Moscow Jew,
Leonid Rigerman. The State De-
partment announced that Alger-
man and his mother, Mrs. Esther
Michael-Rigerman, are 1 e g a 11 y
U. S. citizens, a status strongly
disputed by Soviet authorities.
One IL S. official said after the
Rigerman decision was announced:
"We will assist them in a reason-
able and appropriate manner if
that is their desire." But he de-
clined to speculate what the U. S.
position would be if the Riger-
mans were to seek asylum in the
U. S. Embassy in Moscow.
New York Mayor John V. Lind-
say and Cleveland Mayor Carl B.
Stokes, sent separate cables to
Alexander A. Sizov, chairman of
the Leningrad City Soviet, el-press-
ing concern about the trial and
calling upon the Soviet authorities
to put an end to it and to allow
the accused to reunite with their
families in IsraeL
New York City's five district at-
torneys, voicing "grave concern,"
asked Leningrad's chief prosecu-
tor for permission to attend the
expected forthcoming trials of 25
additional Soviet Jews arrested
since June.
In return, they offered to allow
the Soviet prosecutor "the right to
attend and report to your people
and to the world upon any trial or
proceeding within the jurisdiction
of our offices."
.