Salim Hamdani, one of the few Jews still living in Syria, was recently arrested by the regime of President Ahmad al?Shar�a, according to a Kan News report on Tuesday morning.

Hamdani owns a shop in the Old City of Damascus, and according to Syrian sources familiar with the details, the official reason for the arrest is �illegal antiquities trading.�

These sources hastened to clarify that Hamdani �was not arrested because of his religion, but because he broke the law.�

Behind-the-scenes efforts are being made to secure his release.

Kan journalist Roi Kais noted that �this is an unusual incident against the backdrop of the new Syrian regime�s attempt to present a tolerant attitude toward the Jewish community and even to invite delegations of Syrian Jews, mainly from the United States, to visit their homeland.�

(YWN Israel Desk�Jerusalem)