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The World Organization of Jews from Arab Countries (WOJAC), which has been involved in the archive issue, prefers a different approach to the Capitol Hill lobbying that has taken place.
“I spoke with the Prime Minister’s Office of Iraq and I requested that the prime minister give these artifacts as a gift to the Iraqi Jews in New York whom I represent,” said Heskel Haddad, the president of WOJAC.
Although Haddad is happy about the U.S. exhibit’s extension, he believes that it is pride—more than the actual financial worth of the artifacts—that is preventing the Iraqi government from relenting on its demand that the archive return to Iraq. He believes that requesting the archive as a gift to the Jewish community, rather than engaging in negotiations and legislative pressure, would help the Iraqis save face.