Yisrael Hatzair, the youth group of the National Council of Young Israel, said today that it would sponsor a mass protest demonstration at the Pan American building here March 9 to demand that Pan American World Airways discontinue its service to Syria because of Syria’s mistreatment of its Jewish citizens. “We will protest, demonstrate against and confront those who deal with the Damascus murderers of Syrian Jewish men, women and children. Pan Am is only our first target,” said Arnold Grant, director of the Orthodox youth group.
In an unrelated development, the financially troubled airline has acknowledged that it was encountering a small but noticeable boycott by Jews since the announcement that the Iranian government would acquire 13 percent of its stock. Company officials said that about 20 letters and telephone calls protesting the deal were received immediately after the initial press reports were published.
A Pan Am spokesman said the airline was explaining to the protestors that Iran was not an Arab country and was not allied with the Arab states that had been at war with Israel. He conceded that it was difficult to convince them of the distinction. Several travel agencies in the New York area confirmed that a number of their Jewish clients going abroad have indicated they would not use Pan Am even though it was pointed out that the Iranians are not Arabs.
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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.
