- Title: ISRAEL: STUDENTS PROTEST AT HANGINGS IN IRAQ
- Date: 3rd March 1969
- Summary: STUDENTS ON CAMPUS; RABBI FRANKEL ADDRESSING STUDENTS; MINISTER BEGIN ADDRESSING STUDENTS; RABBI RECITING PRAYER; STUDENTS STANDING IN SILENCE, SIGNING PETITION. Initials GL/VS/JH/GJB Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 18th March 1969 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: TEL AVIV, ISRAEL
- Country: Israel
- Reuters ID: LVA6VAHA0P9Y15QED2E61E0BR36O
- Story Text: STUDENTS AT TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY, ISRAEL, GATHERED ON THE UNIVERSITY CAMPUS YESTERDAY (2 MARCH) TO PROTEST AT THE PUBLIC EXECUTION OF ALLEGED ISRAELI SPIES, AMONG THEM IRAQI JEWS. THEY WERE ADDRESSED BY MANAHEM BEGIN, MINISTER WITHOUT PORTFOLIO, WHO BROUGHT NEWS OF THE ISRAEL GOVERNMENT'S APPEAL TO WORLD OPINION TO WORK FOR A HALT TO FURTHER EXECUTIONS.
THE MEETING WAS CALLED IN RESPONSE TO A STATEMENT FROM THE WORLD JEWISH CONGRESS WARNING THAT FURTHER HANGINGS WOULD TAKE PLACE IN BAGHDAD WITHIN A FEW DAYS. THE STUDENTS WERE ALSO ADDRESSED BY RABBI FRANKEL OF TEL AVIV, WHO RECITED A PRAYER AND THE NAMES OF THE NINE JEWS WHO WERE AMONG 14 IRAQIS PUBLICLY HANGED IN BAGHDAD IN JANUARY.
THE STUDENTS STOOD IN SILENCE IN MEMORY OF THE DEAD, AND AGREED TO SEND AN URGENT MEMORANDUM TO THE UNITED NATIONS, WHICH THEY QUEUED UP TO SIGN.
THE ISRAELI CABINET ANNOUNCED YESTERDAY (2 MARCH) THAT IT HAD HEARD WITH ANXIETY REPORTS ABOUT NEW TRIALS OF ALLEGED SPIES IN BAGHDAD AND THE DANGER OF MORE HANGINGS. THE CABINET SAID IT HOPED THAT APPEALS FROM ALL PARTS OF THE CIVILISED WORLD URGING A HALT TO THE EXECUTIONS WOULD PREVENT RECURRENCE OF ACTS THAT SHOOK THE CONSCIENCE OF THE WORLD.
THE ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID (MARCH 2) IT HAD CONFIRMED THAT IRAQ INTENDED TO HANG ANOTHER GROUP OF ALLEGED SPIES, INCLUDING THREE JEWS. THE EXECUTIONS WERE DUE TO TAKE PLACE TODAY OR WEDNESDAY (MARCH 3/4), A SPOKESMAN SAID.
REPRESENTATIVES OF ARAB TRADE UNIONS AFFILIATED TO ISRAEL'S FEDERATION OF LABOUR YESTERDAY (2 MARCH) ALSO URGED THE IRAQI GOVERNMENT TO REFRAIN FROM FURTHER EXECUTIONS. THE ARAB TRADE UNIONIST MEETING IN TEL AVIV PROTESTED AT WHAT THEY CALLED THE "ABSENCE OF FAIR TRIAL PROCEDURES IN IRAQ".
AS WELL AS THE 14 ALLEGED SPIES EXECUTED IN JANUARY, ANOTHER EIGHT WERE EXECUTED LAST MONTH.
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