MOSCOW (JTA) — Jewish emigration from Russia to Israel more than doubled in 1999, according to Russia's Interfax news agency.

Citing figures of the Moscow office of the Jewish Agency for Israel, Interfax said 29,534 Russian Jews left for Israel last year, compared to 13,019 in 1998.

Collaborator Papon faces heart surgery

PARIS (JTA) — A former Vichy official who is serving a 10-year prison term for his role in the arrest and deportation of Jews from France during World War II will undergo heart surgery later this week, his lawyer said Wednesday.

Maurice Papon, 89, will have a pacemaker implanted during the operation. Papon, who underwent triple bypass surgery several years ago, has requested a presidential pardon for medical reasons.