Lapid wants Jews from Iraq and Iran to prepare claims

Haaretz.com ^ | December 18, 2003 | Amiram Barkat

[Pan_Yans Wife]

Justice Minister Yosef Lapid has urged that all material relating to Jewish property in Iraq and Iran be collected. The purpose would be a future Israeli claim over Jewish property left in those countries.

Lapid yesterday met with representatives of Jews who had lived in Arab countries to discuss the issue. He criticized previous Israeli governments that had treated the Jews who immigrated to Israel from the Arab countries as "brothers who returned to their homeland."

Lapid said: "At a time when the Palestinians turned into professional refugees, we gave up one of the best arguments that we have... This is one of the greatest blunders made in the state's history."

Attorney General Elyakim Rubinstein said that the claims of Jews from Arab countries should be used in negotiations as a counter balance to recognition of the rights of Palestinian refugees.

Oved Ben-Ozer, head of WOJAC, the world organization of Jews from Arab countries, said that there were fears among members that the Israeli government would take over the properties. "If they do, we will sue them," he said.

In the past few months, the foreign ministry has instructed Israeli diplomatic missions to raise the issue in their information programs.

[tkathy]

Israel needs to work on their abysmal public relations. This is a great idea.