Sens. Pat Toomey, D-Pa.; Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn; and Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. stepped in last year to protect Torah parchments, ancient prayer books and other Jewish artifacts that American soldiers confiscated in Iraq in 2003 , according to the Post-Gazette.The recent rise of ISIS in Iraq does tend to focus the mind when considering whether these Jewish artifacts should go back to that region.
The senators said the artifacts should not be returned to a government who stole them. The items are now at the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, where scholars may access them.
The U.S. and Iraq came to an agreement to keep the 2,300 artifacts for an additional two years, but the senators are looking for more permanent solution. Nearly $3 million has been spent to protect and preserve the artifacts from Iraq, and many hope this same effort will go towards the most recent ISIS acquisition.
“The ISIS terrorists have only contempt for things that civilized society holds dear: life, education, history and culture,” Sen. Toomey said.
Background here and links.