The mother of an Israeli Infantryman and the pregnant wife of a flier who are held prisoners In Syria appealed to Americans today to help bring about their release. The women declined to identify themselves, caving they were afraid their husbands might be harmed. The father of another infantryman captured by the Syrians was unable to appear at the news conference held at the Israeli Embassy.
The 49 year old woman, who said she was from a kibbutz, stated that her 21-year-old son, captured on the first day of the war, was alive on Oct. 15 when she saw him on a television program from Syria. The 21-year-old wife, who is six months pregnant, said her pilot husband was injured when he came down in the Golan Heights on Oct. 21. She knew about this from a Lebanese newspaperman’s interview with him that was filmed by NBC. He was the last Israeli to be captured.
The mother said that their trip to America was financed by families of the POWs. They are here, she said, to help fell the world about the refusal of the Syrians to give the names of their prisoners. Evidently referring to families of American prisoners who were captured by the North Vietnamese and whose whereabouts were unknown for long periods, the Israeli mother said she knows American women “understand what I am talking about.” She then asked newsmen “please help me and other wives, mothers and parents of prisoners.”
She pointed out that the Israelis published the names of the 367 Syrian prisoners held by Israel a week after the cease-fire went into effect. Every one of these Syrians, she said, was permitted to write home. But of the 102 Israelis held by Syria there has been no word. Forty-two.Israeli POWs have been reported killed by Syrians she said.
In a visit to the State Department earlier today the women said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Roger Davies told them that Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger is very concerned about the Israeli POWs and will take it up when he visits Damascus this week. The three-Israeli will meet with members of Congress tomorrow and may also meet with the members of the National League of Families of American Prisoners of War. They have already met with representatives of veterans organizations since their arrival Monday from Israel They will return to Israel next week. (By Joseph Polakoff)
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