[MakkabI]
July 30th, 2004, 05:17 PM
MK Ehud Rassabi (Shinui) on Thursday asked US Ambassador Dan Kurtzer to request that the State Department halt the Satmar Hassidim from bringing Jews from Yemen to the United States.
Rassabi, who is of Yemenite descent, said 80 Yemenite Jews are being held by the Satmars in the New York area and should be allowed to immigrate to Israel.
In his meeting with Kurtzer, Rassabi said the US should help prevent the 300 Jews remaining in Yemen from being brought in on various visas via the Satmars. He asked Kurtzer to investigate how the Jews are being brought in and whether any "laws are being broken" to do so.
According to Rassabi, the anti-Zionist Satmars don't allow the Yemenite immigrants to come to Israel, and some are being held against their will through tactics such as sending children to different families.
"They have nothing to do there but learn Yiddish and work as money collectors for the Satmars," he said.
Kurtzer agreed to hold more talks with Rassabi to follow up on the issue, US Embassy spokesman Paul Patin said. The embassy is still examining whether the issue is within the purview of the State Department, he said.
Some members of the Nahari family immigrated from the US in June through an effort of the Jewish Agency after they succeeded in overcoming obstacles.
Rassabi is also working with the Foreign Ministry to coordinate efforts through the US Consulate in New York. The Immigration Absorption Ministry is also seeking funding to offer full housing grants to immigrants who arrive from Yemen, at the same level of those offered to Ethiopian immigrants. The total sum needed to fund the benefit would be NIS 20 million.
According to Rassabi, Kurtzer is familiar with the Satmar-Yemenite problem, but asked to get updates on the situation.
Rassabi, who is of Yemenite descent, said 80 Yemenite Jews are being held by the Satmars in the New York area and should be allowed to immigrate to Israel.
In his meeting with Kurtzer, Rassabi said the US should help prevent the 300 Jews remaining in Yemen from being brought in on various visas via the Satmars. He asked Kurtzer to investigate how the Jews are being brought in and whether any "laws are being broken" to do so.
According to Rassabi, the anti-Zionist Satmars don't allow the Yemenite immigrants to come to Israel, and some are being held against their will through tactics such as sending children to different families.
"They have nothing to do there but learn Yiddish and work as money collectors for the Satmars," he said.
Kurtzer agreed to hold more talks with Rassabi to follow up on the issue, US Embassy spokesman Paul Patin said. The embassy is still examining whether the issue is within the purview of the State Department, he said.
Some members of the Nahari family immigrated from the US in June through an effort of the Jewish Agency after they succeeded in overcoming obstacles.
Rassabi is also working with the Foreign Ministry to coordinate efforts through the US Consulate in New York. The Immigration Absorption Ministry is also seeking funding to offer full housing grants to immigrants who arrive from Yemen, at the same level of those offered to Ethiopian immigrants. The total sum needed to fund the benefit would be NIS 20 million.
According to Rassabi, Kurtzer is familiar with the Satmar-Yemenite problem, but asked to get updates on the situation.