Premier Levi Eshkol said today that Israel would seek maximum world attention to the “cruelties” suffered by Israelis in Syrian prisons and that Israel would spare no effort to obtain the release of Israelis still held. He accused Syria of “barbarism” in the treatment of Israeli prisoners.
He told Israel’s Parliament that joy over the return of II Israelis in a prisoner exchange last Saturday was “mixed with deep sorrow and shock.” He added that eight of the returnees were “broken in body and spirit after years of cruel man-handling and indescribable sufferings.” All of the II had to be hospitalized.
He noted that, for years the Syrians had denied holding any Israeli prisoners altogether, but that those returning had confirmed that more were still being held. Israel has renewed its energetic approach to the United Nations to effect their release, the Premier said.
He opened his statement with an expression of thanks on behalf of the Government and the families of the freed prisoners to the United Nations for the efforts made to obtain their release.
(Washington sources confirmed today that the U.S. Embassy in Israel has been informed of Israel’s charges of barbarity against Israel. However, it was noted that Israel did not request any U.S. action on this issue.)
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