Friday, March 7, 2014

Bipartisan Resolution Condemning Repatriation of the Iraqi Jewish Archive Introduced in the House

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.) and Congressman Steven Israel (D-NY) have introduced a resolution, HR 505, recommending that the US renegotiate the return of the Iraqi Jewish Archive so that the rights of the Iraqi Jewish community in exile are protected.  The resolution mirrors an earlier one that passed by unanimous consent in the Senate.  Will the State Department and its Cultural Heritage take heed of these resolutions or will they be ignored?  And, if so, will Congress take additional action to stop the repatriation?   And what of the ardent repatriationists in the archaeological community?  Will they actively oppose the resolution and what it stands for?
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1 comment:

  1. Cultural Property ObserverMarch 8, 2014 at 3:00 AM

    From Arthur Houghton,

    "It seems impossible to believe, but I would bet that the Department of State, eyes and conscience blinded, would insist that the archive be sent back to the Government of Iraq forthwith, on the basis that the archive was stolen fair and square by the Iraqi intelligence services and is therefore part of their national heritage, requiring repatriation to the state. I believe it would be worth a question in the direction of State about their position.on the matter. My recollection is that he current chair of the Cultural Property Advisory Committee made her own views on the subject clear several years ago.

    Thank you for pursuing this.

    Warm regards,

    Arthur".

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