The Knesset, which adjourned for spring recess more than a week ago, will convene in special session Tuesday to discuss the deteriorating situation of Jews in Iraq. A formal request for a special session was received today by Knesset Speaker Reuben Barkatt. It was signed by more than the 30 MKs required to call the Knesset into special session. On the agenda are motions field by several opposition factions including Gahal, Agudat Israel, the Free Center and the State List. The plight of Iraqi Jews was taken up at a special meeting of the Israeli Executive of the World Jewish Congress. While there was no new information today about the plight of Iraqi Jews, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported last week that about 40 Jews were being held in custody without trial for allegedly trying to leave the country illegally. According to reports, three were sentenced to death and would be executed shortly and the rest faced possible death sentences.
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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.
