Greater Washington’s Jewish Community Council urged this weekend the U.S. government “to employ every means possible” to bring Syria into compliance with the Geneva Convention on war prisoners and “to facilitate an immediate exchange of prisoners” between Syria and Israel. Leaders of the Council, representing 170 synagogues and Jewish organizations in the Washington area, presented Under Secretary of State-designate Joseph J. Sisco with petitions bearing more than 7,000 signatures protesting Syria’s refusal to abide by the Convention and noted that Israel has complied.
The delegation met with Sisco at the State Department as he prepared to depart tomorrow with Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger for the Middle East where they will attempt to bring about disengagement of Syrian and Israeli forces. Israel has declared it will not negotiate with Syria until the POW issue is resolved. The delegation asked Sisco to urge President Nixon, Kissinger and the UN to intercede.
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