This dual-line graph shows the total number of immigrants to Israel and the number of Soviet Jews who immigrated to Israel. This graph not only shows the fluctuation of immigrants to Israel, but the graph also shows the trend in Soviet Jew immigration to Israel. Before the 1970s, immigrants to Israel were not all, or mostly, Soviet Jews. However, as time gradually passed, the number of Soviet Jews to Israel and total number of immigrants to Israel got closer and closer together, meaning that Soviet Jews became the main people immigrating to Israel.
Jewish Immigrants from the Former Soviet Union to Israel
This graph is really insightful in showing how Israel was a key place of refuge for asylum-seeking Soviet Jews. You can especially see in the late 1980s, when Reagan and Gorbachev agreed to free Soviet Jews at the Reykjavik Summit, that there was a spike in Refuseniks traveling to Israel. The lines were almost 100% aligned, showing that it was mostly this group who fled to Israel, and proves how important Israel was for these refugees for their safety.