Concern over the fate of the remaining Jews in Arab countries involved in the Yom Kippur War against Israel was expressed here today by Rep. Ogden Reid (D.NY) former Egyptian Chief Rabbi Haim Douek and two young Jewish women who recently escaped from Syria. The four said, at a Joint interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, they had reason to believe that the condition of Jews in Syria, Egypt and Iraq had worsened as a result of the war.
Reid said he had, discussed the problem with Premier Golda Meir and Defense Minister Moshe Dayan during a recent visit to Israel and that both had indicated that they had agreed with his view that the release of those Jews be made a necessary condition of a final cease-fire in the Middle East. Reid also said he planned to bring the problem to the attention of the State Department and that he would urge the United States to press the Soviet Union to use its influence with the Arab countries to act for the release of the Jews in the Arab countries.
The women escapees described constant persecution, lack of freedom and basic human rights and a daily life in Syria of terror and harassment. They assumed the names of Rita Hassan and Ruth Cohen to prevent retaliation against family members still in Syria.
Mrs. Cohen, who escaped four months ago, and Mrs. Hassan, who fled eight months ago, said they had to pay $700 each to be smuggled out of Syria.
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