In this position paper PHRI’s Ethics Committee and NGO Amram seek to expose the role of health and welfare professionals in the abduction of Yemenite, Mizrahi, and Balkan children during the years following the founding of the State of Israel. Our goal is to bring recognition and accountability for a tragedy that befell hundreds of families.

Following a 2013 meeting with Amram–an organization dedicated to documenting and shedding light on the abduction of Yemenite, Mizrahi, and Balkin children–PHRI joined forces with the organization in its struggle for recognition and truth. Our unique contribution to these efforts is to emphasize the role of physicians, nurses, and social workers in the abduction of Yemenite, Mizrahi, and Balkan children.

It is important to stress that exposure of these abductions is not a matter of historic interest alone, but rather one of combatting an ongoing injustice: complete information regarding the abductions will be kept out of the public eye until 2066. Thus, it will be impossible for impacted families to find answers to their questions. They will never be able to fully reconcile the abduction of their children and the pain and suffering they have experienced. PHRI believes that the medical community has a special responsibility to demand the opening of the archives and to join in the day of recognition and awareness regarding the abduction of Yemenite, Mizrahi and Balkan children.

Further information regarding the collaborative project is accessible here.