Return of Manuscripts?

This article discusses the return of manuscripts belonging to the Iraqi Jews. When the U.S. invaded Iraq they found over 2.700 books and thousands of documents that pertain to a once thriving Jewish community. However, that community fled Iraq in 1948 when Israel was created and only a scattered remnant is left, but under the terms of a contract the National Archives will return the material to the Iraqi National Museum and Archives. The issue is that the Jewish community feels that the documents should be returned to them because it is their Jewish community's history and their papers. They feel that the Iraqi government cannot protect the documents and are not ready to make them available to the public. In addition, the limited number of Iraqi Jews remaining cannot watch to make sure the texts are properly taken care of. Their fear is that their history will not be taken care of and preserved. In contrast, the Iraqi National Museum and Archives feels that the Jewish community is part of Iraqi history and therefore the
documents should remain in Iraq. They feel that they can preserve the documents
for the future and make them accessible to the public.

I believe that the Jewish Community should be able to receive and control the documents. While the history pertains to Iraqi Jews and is a part of Iraq’s history, worldwide there is a thriving Jewish community that can protect its heritage. I think the Jewish community can rightfully claims those papers.

For now the documents will be returned to the Iraqi government but only the future will tell if the Jewish people will get back their history.

What do you think?

Link: http://news.msn.com/us/trove-of-iraqi-jewish-belongings-to-go-on-display