December 13, 1991

Page 1

mnVJl^V/A'>^rWAV<M'/IA'<t< ^ *f«^y«v:rt»^-A? v^wa- j ^ W/A/^ v/^A-

=0! QonncXl oj Jewish Feck^ratwm Award Winning Newspaper

J/ ;

wislh

SERVING NEBRASKA AND IOWA SINCE 1920

Vol. LXIXNo. 15 Omaha, Nebr.

"

Syria frees four Jews from prison i" By Larry Yudelson ' NEW YORK (JTA)Syria has freed four Jews imprisoned for attempting to leave the country, the Council {or the Rescue of Syrian Jews reported Tuesday. The release represents the first tangible success of diplomatic and grassroots efforts on behalf of Syrian Jewry that have been building in recent months. At the same time, it highlights the oppression and restrictions inflicted on the 4,000 Jews living in Syria. "We hope it portends a change of attitude on the part of the Assad government, leading to freedom of «migration for all Jews," said Gilbert Kahn, executive director of the council. "We're appreciative, but the fact is that those people should never have been put in prison in the first place," said Abraham Bayer, director of international concerns at the National Jewish Community Relations Advisory Council. . „ ' "Why is it a crime in 1991 that people should be free and want to be reunited with their families?" he asked. Two Jews remain in Syrian jails, where they have

been held since 1987: Eli and Salim Swed, brothers arrested after Eli Swed visited Italy. The two reportedly have been staging an unprecedented hunger strike in prison. The four who \yere released Nov. 28 include Rahmun Darwish and Joseph Raful Sabato. They were arrested Sept. 25', 1990, along with Darwish's fiancee and Sabato's wife, who was seven months pregnant at the time. She gave birth in prison and was later released, along with Darwish's fiancee. Also freed last week were Subhi and Sa'id Castica, two brothers arrested on or about May 1 of this year, along with their wives and two infants. The women were beaten and then released along with the children after three weeks in captivity. The release of the four Jews followed by two days an appeal on theit4>ehalf by Israeli representative Ilan Mor to the U.N. General Assembly's Social, Humanitarian and Cultural Committee. The appeal, which was the first mention of Syrian Jewry at the United Nations in two years and the first major address on the subject ever at the world body, came at a time when

the topic of human rights is receiving more serious consilEration than ever at the United Nations. And it came at a time when the plight of Syrian Jewry has assumed an increasingly high profile on the international agenda. President Bush and Secretary of State James Baker have repeatedly discussed the issue in their meetings with Syrian leaders. Argentine President Carlos Saul Menem, who is of Syrian descent, has also raised the issue. Israeli Foreign Minister David Levy said in May that "there can be no talk of a peace process while Syrian Jews are held hostage," and Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir mentioned the issue in speeches during his U.S. visit last month. Before recessing last week, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed resolutions calling on Syria to grant its Jews the right of free emigration and to release its Jewish prisoners from jail. While Syria detains without trial and tortures its own citizens, particularly political activists and members of banned Palestinian groups, Jews face unique restrictions, including special surveillance.

#1

Ceremony of dedication Louis and Frances Blumkin lead the procession of Torah Scrolls during the ceremony of dedication Sunday night<at Beth El Synagogue. More coverage of the event appears on pages 4-5.

Mayor to speak Mayor P.J. Morgan wiir speak to B'nai B'rith Breadbreakers Dec. 18, at noon, at Regency West Best Western, chairman Ron Gordon has announced. Cost is $7 and the community may attend.

f^-

f\^

1

New arrivals Keuniflction of Soviet Jewlih ramiUea with rtlativea In Omaha coaUnuw ^th the new arrivala ihown h«r«. RcMltlaoMit of Soviet Jews is beii^ paid for by contribatiou to th« OpantiM BxodiH (oad-raiaiag cam palfi MMUrtakw by tha Jawiab FtdarattoB of Omha. Abova ia tha Rakaii ttmOy, tnm laf i. Irina,

Laonid. Alei and Yelina; (op right. YenU KuUk, Eric Piaetaky. MargariU Libov, Soflya Peaetaky. Maka Ubov, Dmitry Libov, Edward Peaataky, Inaaaa Ubov, Marina Libov, William Piaetaky, Raiaa PiaaUky, Roaum Ptaataky: bottom pbout. the Doblaa: Qana, Tatyaaa, Paul, Faaya and Boria.

—'""^TJT^J

Vote to repeal expected next week By Larry Yudelson UNITED NATIONS (JTA)-IsraeU officials here now appear to be confident that they have the votes needed to repeal the 1975 General Assembly resolution denigrating Zionism as racism. A vote on a proposed repeal measure is expected to take place sometime before Dec. 17, when the General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn. As of Monday, niore than 45 countries had agreed to CO- sponsor the repeal resolution, according to Malcolm I loenlein, executive director of the Conference of Presi' dents of Major American Jewish Organizations, which has mounted a lobbying effort. The Israeli Mission here has long played down the issue publicly, insisting only that it would attempt to repeal the Zionism resolution "only if we get a comfortable majority." But on Sunday, Israeli officials were speaking privately of the repeal as a foregone conclusion. Elan Steinberg, executive director of the World Jewish Congress, said that according to his informal count, more than two-thirds of the U.N. member states have agreed to back the repeal. nut counseling "it isn't over till it's over," he warned that the Arab states could still mount a parliamentary maneuver to keep the question frooi a vote The Arab group herf affirmed its opposition to the repeal in a siulenuml issued hero last Thursday. Spearheading the opposition is Egypt's foreign minister, who as his country's longtime U.N. ambassador, is 9dept at procedural maneuvers. Another Egyptian, Bo'ulros Ghali, has been elected U.N. secretary-general, though.he does not tako office until Jan. I. Co-aponsors of the repeal measure mot Monday afternoon to map out the final legislative strategy leading to the vote, Tiu< draft resolution simply states that "the (ieneral Assembly dwides to revoke the "l^'i <r-M,iii,ii ion contained in its Resolution :)a79 of 10 I < >I75." The crucial passagaof Reaoluiion .M >:« wait the determination that "Zionism ia a form of racism and rnciai discrimination. " Meanwhile, the U.S. deciaion last week to give a gr«en light to the rapaal effort has spurred the flood of ;iationa assuring Jewish ttroups of their support. The P< i I lite laat weak voted to instruct its U.N.deltj,... niinnrt i >i« r«pM|, joining the leglslaturea of moat of i ittin American alataaI in tha repeal camp. Oiii,r ^ uua is expected to be on Arab aide.

1 I

m


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.