EMIGRATION FIGURES TO ISRAEL CONTESTED.

Israeli officials this week disputed reports that Russia’s economic crisis is fueling increased emigration of Jews from Russia to Israel (see the Monitor, September 10). According to the Israeli prime minister’s adviser on immigration and absorption, recent declarations suggesting an increase in emigration from Russia “are not based on data from the field, and are more in the nature of statements to the media.” According to Nativ, the prime minister’s “liaison bureau” for Jews in the former Soviet Union, there has been no increase in the number of requests for entry visas to Israel by Jews in Russia since the economic crisis began. Indeed, the number of Jews who want to settle in Israel actually declined in 1998 as compared to last year, Nativ said. (Ha’aretz, September 10)

CHECHEN WAR LORD DEMANDS RELEASE OF ARRESTED DAGESTANI.