The remains of David Rasiel, first commander of the Irgun Zvai Leumi who was killed in Iraq while on a mission for the British during World War II 14 years ago, were transferred today from Iraq to the Jewish cemetery in Cyprus by the British authorities. It is understood that his family, and particularly his widow, who is now a Herut deputy in the Israel Parliament, have been requesting British authorities for many years not to leave his body in Iraq.
Rasiel had been assigned by the British security authorities in Palestine to assist British forces in quelling the Axis-backed revolt of Rashid al Ghaliam in Iraq, and in sabotaging German Luftwaffe units stationed there. Rasiel was killed in a German bombing raid while in a car with a British major on his way to perform a mission. Rasiel was buried in Habaniyah.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
