A Daily Tale of Terror: A Syrian Jew's Rebuttal
three
By ALAN HITSKY
An annonymous Jewish escapee from Syria, who is hiding his identity to protect his
family there, told The Jewish News this week that much of the material presented on the
CBS "60 Minutes" program on Feb. 16, and re-broadcast June 8 after a formal protest
from the American Jewish Congress, is grossly inaccurate and "lies."
The Syrian, who was sent to prison without trial for three years at the age of 14 for
trying to visit his relatives in Lebanon without permission, fled Syria when he learned
that he would be arrested again when he signed in with all other Jews before the evening
curfew.
Chain-smoking, and with shaking hands, the Syrian described for two hours
how, as a teenager, he was tortured under German supervision every third day for
The Fate of
World War II Hero:
Raoul Wallenberg
Activities
Reconstructed
He was fed only bread and water. He saw the lifeless body of one of his friends in the
torture room when he was 16, and a third boy arrested with him was released from prison
six months after him, and has been "crazy" ever since.
The Syrian said the "60 Minutes" interviewers should have asked the Damascus Jew-
ish businessman Nusseri why Nusseri's brother fled Syria several years ago if conditions
for Jews are as good as Nusseri described on the program. The CBS program admitted on
(Continued on Page 9)
THE JEWISH NEWS
Commentary
Page 2
VOL. LXVII, No. 15 -
years, and was released from prison only after his eyes bled continuously from
pin pricks. The first two years in prison he was confined alone in a small, under-
ground dirt cell, and was forced to relieve himself in a corner which was never
cleaned.
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Significant
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Accomplishments
of Jewish
Vocational
Workshop
Illustrated
Story, Page 48
June 20, 1975
Israel Will Continue M.E.
Talks Despite Stalemate
Three Israelis Die
in Terrorist Attack
For at least a month, contrary to warnings from the White House and the State Department that a
"stalemate" will not be tolerated, the Middle East situation is stalemated for some time until after Presi-
dent Ford confers with the Syrian Foreign Minister Abda Kadam and the results of the Ford-Sadat-Rabin
consultations are thoroughly analyzed.
TEL AVIV (JTA) — An Israeli who joined soldiers in
an assault on terrorists who occupied his home Sunday
morning, killed two terrorists with a burst of machinegun
fire and was himself fatally wounded by a grenade.
The bitter battle in Kfar Yuval near the Lebanese bor-
der left three Israel civilians and four terrorists dead and
five Israelis injured, including a seven-month-old boy.
Israeli Air Force jets retaliated with four strikes
against terrorist bases in southern Lebanon, an area known
as Fatahland. The planes attacked Shuba village, a spring-
board for terrorist incursions into Israel.
Continuation of discussions was assured Tuesday in a decision by the Israel cabinet to carry on disputa-
tions with the U. S. as intermediary and as chief arbiter over issues involving Israel and Egypt. The Kadam
visit will introduce the Syrian aspect into the presently muted situation. Kadam is due in Washington
today, for a visit of undetermined duration.
The Israeli dead were identified as Yaacov Morde-
chai, his wife Simha and a relative, Nehemia Yossef
Chai. The wounded were identified as Mordechai's seven
month-old son Assaf who was injured in the head and
leg; Mordechai Bezalel, Yaacov Mordechai's brother
and Avraham Yossef Chai. The name of the fifth
wounded person was not immediately known.
Meanwhile, two civilians were injured when several
Katyusha rockets fired from Lebanon exploded at the sea-
side resort of Nahariva.
The surviving members of Yaacov Mordechai's family
were reported out of danger at Safed Hospital. The secre-
tary of Kfar Yuval said the tragedy only re-enforced the
settlers' ties with their village. He asked that the settlers
receive arms to defend themselves.
(Continued on Page 15)
(Rumored reports from Moscow are that Russia is abandoning pressures over reconvening the
Geneva Conference. The report is interpreted as a concession to the validity of the Kissinger step-by-
step talks.)
The American course toward diplomatic progress in the Middle East, either by a new interim agree-
ment between Israel and Egypt or an overall settlement, remained uncertain, however. The Administration
is yet to come up with its foreign aid package for Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Syria which, most observers
agree, will be a tangible indication of the extent of the American commitment to those four countries in
economic and military terms during the new fiscal year that begins July 1.
U.S.-Israel relations were underlined in the closing days of Rabin's visit in philosophical comments by
President Ford. The President observed that the basis of U.S.-Israeli relations was the two countries' mu-
tual dedication to democracy. Kissinger made the same point in a toast at a dinner for Rabin given last
Thursday night by Israeli Ambassador Simcha Dinitz, at the Israeli Embassy.
Dinitz reiterated what Rabin said on the CBS "Face the Nation" program Sunday, prior to his depar-
ture from the U.S. that all negotiations and pieces of paper that are signed will be unable to guarantee
Israel's security "unless Israel is strong by itself and for itself."
And in New York Saturday, Rabin told 2,300 Israel Bond leaders that he had explained Israel's position
"very thoroughly" to President Ford but did not know if "all was accepted."
(Continued on Page 14)
Cornerstone Ceremony
at New Center Sunday
The official cornerstone laying ceremony for the new Jewish Com-
munity Center at Maple and Drake Roads in West Bloomfield Township
will be held 1:30 p.m. Sunday. The ceremony will take place inside the
new building's two-story exhibition hall and lobby.
Jewish Welfare Federation President Mandell L. Berman will de-
liver a short keynote address. West Bloomfield Township Supervisor
John Doherty will also participate. Other invited dignitaries include the
leaders of the Jewish Welfare Federation, United Community Services,
and the United Foundation. The community has also been invited.
A time capsule will be placed behind the cornerstone, containing
documents from the member-agencies of the Federation. N. Brewster
Broder, chairman of the cornerstone committee and chairman of the
center's executive committee, will serve as master of ceremonies.
The new Center is in its final stage of construction, and the official
opening of the building is scheduled for January.
The city of Detroit purchased the Meyers Rd. Jewish Commu-
nity Center Wednesday — See Story on Page 18.