Many members of the Jewish community of the Congo are in a panicky state because they do not have Belgian nationality but none of them have been harmed, according to an eye-witness report by an Israeli official who returned here this morning from the strife-torn new African republic.
Yaacov Levav, a Solel Boneh director, who was a member of an Israeli delegation to the Congo independence celebration, said the Congo Jews who were frightened had retained their former Greek or Italian nationality. He added that among the 2,500 Jews in the Congo Jewish community, many of whom are former residents of Rhodes, talk about migrating to Israel was becoming more frequent. He said he had heard that Jews of other African countries, south of the equator, also were thinking about migration, a thought which had never occurred to them before.
Describing the situation generally in the Congo, Mr. Levav said it was “very hot,” to the point that economic talks between the Israeli delegation and Congo leaders had been suspended. He expressed the hope that the talks would be resumed when “quieter” days come.
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