Knesset Spotlights Plight of Syria’s Jews, Urges Campaign

The Knesset marked the third anniversary of the public hanging of nine Jews in Iraq this afternoon but the focus of their anniversary of the public hanging of nine Jews in Iraq this afternoon but the focus of their attention was on the plight of Jews remaining in Syria. Foreign Minister Abba Eban, speaking on behalf of the government described in detail the physical suffering of the Syrian Jewish community. He said the movements of Jews are curtailed during the day and they are confined to their homes at night. They are kept in abject poverty and subjected to constant physical maltreatment and abuse, Eban said.

He declared that the free world placed no credence in Damascus’ disclaimers intended to prove that all was well with Syrian Jews. The Israeli Foreign Minister called on governments, institutions and personalities everywhere to raise their voices in a campaign to save the victims. He assured the Knesset that the Israeli government would not rest or keep silent until the last Jew is permitted to leave Syria. The Knesset later adopted a resolution stating that emigration was the only solution for Jews remaining in Syria and other Arab countries.