Rare Iraqi Jewish treasures in limbo

jerusalem (jta) | Rare Jewish artifacts unearthed during the Iraq war remain in limbo.

A Bible printed in Venice in 1568 and other Jewish books, pamphlets and scrolls discovered by U.S. officials in the bombed-out headquarters of the Iraqi secret police face questions of ownership and who will pay to save them, The Associated Press reported.

The documents, many water-logged and later dried and packed into 27 trunks, are now housed in a National Archives laboratory after being freeze-dried to prevent further deterioration.

The papers remain of great interest in part because they could tell much about Baghdad’s Jews, who numbered 100,000 after World War II but have dwindled to a handful today after many emigrated and some executed for being Israeli spies.

Israeli spy site mobbed

jerusalem (jta) | A new Web site for Israel’s spy agency was deluged with visitors.

The site for the Mossad attracted more than 350,000 visitors, drew 2,500 job applicants and numerous tips during its first 48 hours online, The Jerusalem Post reported last week.

The site, in both English and Hebrew, promises any information will remain private.

Anti-gay posters hit Jerusalem

jerusalem (jta) | Anti-gay and -lesbian posters appeared in Jerusalem days before a gay pride rally.

The posters, which compared gay men and lesbians to child molesters, appeared days before the city’s third annual gay pride parade on Thursday, May 29.

Jordan U. in Israel?

jerusalem (jta) | A Jordanian university may open an Israeli branch.

Officials with Rabat Ammon University met with Israel’s education minister, Limor Livnat, and asked for permission to open the branch.

Representatives of Israel’s higher-education council are supposed to evaluate the proposal, The Jerusalem Post reported.