‘A Jew of sound judgement won’t go to Russia’

Putin’s proposal, country headed by Jews and buying up immovable property in Israel

Recently the President of Russia Vladimir Putin offered the Jews who feel uncomfortable in Europe to move to our country. Mikhail Skoblionok, the head of the Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy of Tatarstan, expresses his doubts in a column of Realnoe Vremya that these people won't keep their ears for the words of the head of the government.

Reserve property in Israel

To start with, I will describe the situation in Israel. There is a tendency there: French Jews have been buying up apartments in Israel for the last five years. There are houses but the light is off. I am asking, 'Why the light is off? Are these apartments empty?'

People say that French Jews bought up these apartments and keep them in store. They are afraid that France will become a merely Muslim state and prepared reserve flats.

Arab expansion and reduction of the population of natives of Europe

My friends, who go to France, note that the Arab people crowded all the country. And the Arabs will account for 80% like our Far East populated by Chinese people. The population of ethnic French people is reducing; they are not reproducing, unlike the Arabs. The Muslims have large families there – sometimes a family has 15 children.

'There is a tendency there: French Jews have been buying up apartments in Israel for the last five years.' Photo: redigo.ru

The country lacks space, and the Jews go to other countries where there is work and an opportunity to make money. I emphasize that the Arabs don't disturb others' life. However, people in France are afraid of the current situation in the Near East – wars and attacks.

The number of attacks based on national and religious beliefs increased in Europe. There is hysteria among the Arabs too. Europe is afraid of Jewish pogroms. In France, it is strongly marked.

Putin's initiative

Recently Putin proposed the Jews of Europe to take refuge from pogroms in Russia. Vladimir Putin always knows what to do and say. But a Jew of sound judgement won't go to Russia.

'Vladimir Putin always knows what to do and say. But a Jew of sound judgement won't go to Russia.' Photo: kremlin.ru

I will explain why. Our country is at the height of the economic crisis. There is a huge lead between the rich and the poor that do not exist in many other countries. The rich buy villas, hotels, yachts abroad, while the poor simply have nothing to eat. A revolution may arise here.

The Jews in the whole world estimate this situation. This is why I don't think that there will be a crazy flow of Jews from the whole world to Russia.

Country headed by Jews

But in Russia, the attitude of both ordinary citizens and the government to the Jews is good. In addition, there are Jews in government. Their quantity in the authority of Russia is big. Medvedev has Jewish roots. Dvorkovich is Jewish. What attitude can they have to themselves?

Minnikhanov's merit and territorial dispute

In Tatarstan, the situation is different. The regional government has no Jew.

The synagogue was restored in Kazan, and it is Minnikhanov's personal merit. Rustam Minnikhanov is the only person who has a good attitude to all nationalities and supports all people. He always helps when we ask him.

«Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them.»
'The synagogue was restored in Kazan, and it is Minnikhanov's personal merit.' Photo: Maksim Platonov

But the situation of the municipal authority is not the same. There is a protected area near the synagogue. We were given the synagogue but not the land. It was bought up by the Jewry in the old days. We got the land by court, but the parcel will be up for auction. We lost the case on the parcel. And we are said, 'Go and buy it up'.

What Jew will come here?



By Mikhail Skoblionok
Reference

Mikhail Skoblionok – the director general of TAKPO CJSC, the owner of the chain of Regina hotels, the president of the Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy of Tatarstan.

  • Born on 7 November 1946 in Kharkiv into a military's family. When his father was demobilized, the family moved to Kazan.
  • Having graduated from the secondary school, he got into the Kazan Chemical-Technological Institute's Faculty of Engineering.
  • From 1971, he worked in state enterprises and at the Research Institute.
  • In 1987, he created and headed TAKPO CJSC.
  • In 1996, he succeeded in return of the building of synagogue to the Jewry of Kazan and its reconstruction.
  • In 1998, the Jewish Secondary School of Kazan was created with his assistance.
  • In 2001, he created and headed the Jewish National and Cultural Autonomy of Tatarstan.
  • Mikhail Skoblionok has been a member of the board of trustees of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress since 2006.

Sports