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Moroccan Minister of Interior, Protector of Jews, Dies; Blow to Jewry

April 14, 1961
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Embarek Bekkai, Morocco’s Minister of the Interior who had been a consistent protector of Moroccan Jewry, died here last night. His death is considered a hard blow to Moroccan Jewry which had been able to depend on his benevolence and his aid.

The Minister, who was a French Army officer when Morocco was a French colony, had given reassurances to Jewish organizations in other countries before Morocco obtained independence concerning his friendly attitude.

Earlier this year, he had been one of a small group of Moroccan officials who had interceded with the late King Mohammed V to alleviate a sudden worsening of the Moroccan Jewish community touched off by the visit to Casablanca in January of President Nasser of the United. Arab Republic.

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