Resolution on Compensation of Jews from Arab Lands

Whereas in 1948, there were over 850,000 Jews living in Arab countries;

Whereas in virtually all cases the Jews left their countries of origin under conditions of duress and distress, abandoning individual and communal property which was confiscated without any compensation; and

Whereas President Clinton declared that here should be a fund which compensates the Israelis who were made refugees by the war that occurred after the birth of the State of Israel.

Therefore be it resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly call upon the international community especially the United Nations the United States government and the European Union to place on the agenda the issue of compensation for Jews from Arab lands, recognizing its importance to any final resolution of the Middle East conflict;

Be it further resolved that the Rabbinical Assembly advocate the issue of compensation for Jews from Arab lands in appropriate national and international bodies as a sine qua non to solving the Middle East conflict; and

Be it further resolved that the members of the Rabbinical Assembly promote the documentation of the items of property, both communal and private, of Jews from Arab lands through educational programming in its synagogues, schools, camps, university campuses and other institutions.

Passed by the Rabbinical Assembly Plenum, April, 2003