Angered at the latest reports of Iraqi persecution of Jewish familites, the Israel government announced today that it would raise the issue at a Knesset session Sunday. Foreign Minister Abba Eban will deliver a government statement then.
During a news conference here, the Foreign Minister said that reports reaching him had “confirmed the very strong probability that there have been murders in Baghdad and kidnappings and disappearances as well.” He called this a “very grave development,” which has prompted the Israel government to discuss the matter in the Knesset this Sunday. “There has definitely been a tragic development affecting several families in Iraq,” Eban said.
The Israel news agency, ITIM, reported yesterday that five members of a Jewish family were shot to death last week by Iraqi secret service men. The news service said very reliable sources had informed it that a family named Kashkosh–parents and three children, including a 15-year old girl–had been taken out of their home and shot. A younger daughter was spared, but her fate is not known.
Two older boys from the same family were kidnapped several months ago. They are also presumed to have been killed. During the past year, 16 Jews have disappeared, but the Iraqi authorities claim they fled to Iran, Some were wealthy merchants whose property was seized while others had no property.
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