Speaker. the Persian Gulf war has renewed attempts to find a lasting peace in the Middle East. It has therefore brought a number of important issues to the forefront. As we grapple with alleviating the tragedy of the millions of Kurdish refugees made homeless by Iraqi President Saddam Husseins savagery. as well as the many thousands who endured the terror of the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. postwar discussions are being held by Secretary of State James Baker among the nations of the region. As these discussions progress. I want to alert my colleagues to the continued plight of the small Jewish community in Syria. held hostage by Syrian President Hafez elAssad. Their free and open emigration must be one of our highest priorities. This community. consisting of only 4.000 Individuals. remains confined to a ghetto area In old Damascus. under constant surveillance by the Mukhaberat. the Syrian secret police. Their activities. mail. and phone calls are monitored. Emigration Is forbidden. Any attempt to do so results In arrest. torture. and arbitrary detention without trial. Currently. four men are in prisonthe Swed brothers. who were arrested In 1987. and two men arrested this past fall. Of two women arrested at the same time. one gave birth while In prison. They were subsequently released in December 1990. The congressional caucus for Syrian Jewry. of which I am a cochairman. urged Secretary Baker prior to his visit. to ensure that the emigration of Syrias Jewish community be one of our Governments highest priorities. A few days later. President Assad stated that any Improvement In the situation of Syrian Jews must be linked with Israels relinquishing the Golan Heights.
Keywords matched
Emigration emigration refugees