Israel is compiling a list of assets left behind by Jewish refugees, minister Silvan Shalom tells U.N. conference, “We hear a lot about the plight of Arab refugees, but we do not hear a word about 900,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries,”
After decades of discussing Arab claims for refugees from territories that are today Israel, the U.N. on Thursday held discussions on the plight of Jewish refugees from Arab countries following the inception of the State of Israel.
Israeli minister Silvan Shalom and heads of organizations in Syria, Egypt and Iran – Photo: Shahar Azran
The Justice for Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries Conference was held at the U.N. headquarters in New York. It was attended by several regional community heads, with Israel represented by Regional Development and Energy and Water Minister Silvan Shalom.
“We hear a lot about the plight of Arab refugees, but we do not hear a word about 900,000 Jewish refugees from Arab countries,” Shalom said.
The government had raised the issue of recognizing Jewish refugees from Arab countries last year. This marked the second such conference held by the U.N. on the subject.
During his speech, Shalom said that Israel, together with the World Jewish Congress, was busy compiling a list of assets left behind by Jewish refugees who had fled Arab countries.
“I was born in Tunis, and my maternal grandfather, a leader of the Jewish community of Gabes, left behind a lot of property — business, real estate holdings and schools,” Shalom said.
View original Israel Hayom publication at: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=13515
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