Syrian Jews take part in the referendum

Syrian Jews on Monday took part in the referendum carried out on having Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad as President for Syria for the 7 coming years.

Chairman of the Jewish community in Syria Rabbi Khuder Kabareiti said after he cast his vote to the press: " We are members of the Jewish community in Syria who enjoy our full freedom and rights like other Syrian citizens, express our support to Lt. Gen. Bashar al-Assad, wishing his excellency great success in shouldering the responsibility, in following up the process of building up and achieving just and comprehensive peace."

Rabbi Kabareiti added: " We express our total faithfulness and loyalty under a great national unity which has been continuously enhanced."

However, according to officials from the Jewish sect in Syria some 200 Jews are still living in Syria until the end of 1996 but they are now just 60. As from 1993, 4,000 Jews could leave Syria after the late President Hafez al-Assad permitted them to travel outside the country.

Most of these Syrian Jews settled in the New York, USA.