Foreign Governments to Inquire in Baghdad About Fate of Iraqi Jews

Foreign Ministry sources said today that a number of governments have promised Israel that they would instruct their Embassies in Baghdad to inquire into the fate of the Iraqi Jews who have been reported to be victims of official persecution. The sources noted that, apart from Britain, a number of other governments had been asked in the last few days to make overtures in Iraq. They were singled out because they have Missions there. The diplomatic activity follows Foreign Minister Abba Eban’s Knesset speech last Sunday in which he said that the death of five members of the Kashkosh family in Iraq had been verified. He called upon foreign governments to intervene on behalf of Iraqi Jewry to prevent further actions of this kind.