A delegation of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations met today with George Bush, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, to urge “compassionate and humanitarian assistance” on behalf of the remaining 4000 Jews in Syria. At a meeting at the US Mission here, Jacob Stein, chairman of the Presidents Conference, presented “a catalogue of oppression now plaguing the Jews in Syria” and stated that their condition continues to deteriorate.
Stein reported later that Bush expressed deep concern about the reported mistreatment of Jews in Syria and indicated readiness to pursue the matter with appropriate UN officials. The delegation, in addition to Stein, consisted of Phil Baum of the American Jewish Congress; Rabbi Haim Ben Oliel of the Syrian Jewish community in New York; William Korey of B’nai B’rith; Rabbi Israel Miller, president of the American Zionist Federation; and Yehuda Hellman, executive director of the Presidents Conference.
They noted that Syrian Jews are subject to arbitrary arrest; limited in their right to travel inside Syria and absolutely prohibited from travel abroad; restricted in their right to work, to sell their property or pass it on to their heirs; and suffer physical abuse and intimidation in the streets.
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