The Knesset's Aliyah and Absorption Committee discussed the fate today of 11 Iranian Jews who have been missing since the 1990's. The 11 were on their way to Israel when they disappeared, and their relatives in Israel have not heard from or of them since. Arutz-7's Knesset correspondent Haggai Seri-Levy reports that eight Jews disappeared in 1994, and three more in 1997.
Yehuda Kasif, representing the missing Jews' families, said that it is up to the Government of Israel to investigate the matter and to enlist Jewish organizations around the world on their behalf. Committee Chairperson MK Collete Avital (Labor) said that she has asked senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office to take action more than once, including utilizing the services of the German mediator working to free Ron Arad.
Benny Karmani, whose two bothers are among the missing, told Maariv today, "They told us not to publicize it, because that would harm the efforts. But what harm could be caused? Our relatives have disappeared, no one is taking an interest in their fate, there is no sign of life, and all our requests to the authorities to do something have accomplished nothing. I have no doubt that their fate is the same as Ron Arad - alive and held in prison in Iran, with no one in the world knowing of their existence."
The session was not closed to the press, and for this reason no Mossad representatives showed up.
It was decided that a sub-committee would be formed to initiate and track efforts on behalf of the missing Jews. It was further resolved that even if Israel cannot wage an official public campaign on their behalf, there is no reason why Jewish organizations cannot.
Yehuda Kasif, representing the missing Jews' families, said that it is up to the Government of Israel to investigate the matter and to enlist Jewish organizations around the world on their behalf. Committee Chairperson MK Collete Avital (Labor) said that she has asked senior officials in the Prime Minister's Office to take action more than once, including utilizing the services of the German mediator working to free Ron Arad.
Benny Karmani, whose two bothers are among the missing, told Maariv today, "They told us not to publicize it, because that would harm the efforts. But what harm could be caused? Our relatives have disappeared, no one is taking an interest in their fate, there is no sign of life, and all our requests to the authorities to do something have accomplished nothing. I have no doubt that their fate is the same as Ron Arad - alive and held in prison in Iran, with no one in the world knowing of their existence."
The session was not closed to the press, and for this reason no Mossad representatives showed up.
It was decided that a sub-committee would be formed to initiate and track efforts on behalf of the missing Jews. It was further resolved that even if Israel cannot wage an official public campaign on their behalf, there is no reason why Jewish organizations cannot.