The State Department today made known that it is investigating the detention of an American Jew in Syria for almost two years in apparent violation of international law.
Edward J. Levy, 25, was released by Syria last week to Israel in exchange for a Syrian held by Israel. Mr. and Mrs. Irving Levy, of New York City, had reported the disappearance of their son to the U. S. Embassy in Tel Aviv. But his where abouts emerged only with the exchange last week.
The State Department spokesman, Robert McCloskey, said today this was the first word he was held by Syria. Mr. McCloskey emphasized that under international law, a country should notify another nation when her national is held. “We are investigating the circumstances of this detention in Syria and are in touch with Syrian authorities, ” he said.
The 25-year-old American who returned last night to New York after two years in a Syrian prison, charged today that the Syrian authorities confiscated his United States passport, did not permit him to contact the American Embassy and kept him in solitary confinement for most of the time.
Levy strolled across the Israel-Syrian border in June 1964, intending to hitchhike to Turkey and was immediately arrested by the Syrians. He reported today in New York that the Syrians, who accused him of spying for Israel, spat on him when he asked to see an American Embassy representative. He charged that letters he had written to his parents during his confinement in Syria were never received by them.
JTA has documented Jewish history in real-time for over a century. Keep our journalism strong by joining us in supporting independent, award-winning reporting.
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.
