23 Facts About Ibrahim Hesqel

Ibrahim Hesqel served in the Ministry of Trade in the government of President Saddam Hussein until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Ibrahim Hesqel was sent as part of numerous trade missions from Iraq by the government, especially China.

Ibrahim Hesqel was an active member of the Administrative Committee for Iraqi Jews.

Ibrahim Hesqel was sole Jewish to hold such positions in the government of Iraq, which seen as a pride among the remaining Jews of Iraq.

Ibrahim Hesqel was one of the last prominent Jews of Iraq, during the Ba'ath era and before 2003.

Ibrahim Hesqel was born in 1950 in Basra, Iraq, into an Iraqi Jewish family.

Ibrahim Hesqel's father worked at the Ports Authority in the Port of Basra, contributing to the city's bustling trade industry.

Ibrahim Hesqel spent his childhood in the Jewish Quarter of Basra, near the historic Tweig Synagogue, which was the largest synagogue of the city.

Ibrahim Hesqel experienced riots and violence among Jews and Muslims.

Ibrahim Hesqel served alongside other prominent Jewish Iraqis, including Emad Levy, who later became Iraq's last rabbi, and Solla Levy, members of a well-known Jewish family in Baghdad that had been prominent in trade.

Ibrahim Hesqel was appointed appointed as Commercial Attache for Iraq, tasked with developing international trade relationships.

Ibrahim Hesqel had access to key Iraqi officials, such as Muhammad Mahdi Salih, Iraq's Trade Minister, under whom Ibrahim worked.

Ibrahim Hesqel issued trade agreements between China and Iraq and promoted export trade programs on behalf of the government.

Ibrahim Hesqel worked under the authority of Iraqi ambassador to China at the Iraqi Embassy in China.

Ibrahim Hesqel navigated the complexities of Iraq's diplomatic isolation, particularly during the Oil-for-Food Program, which permitted Iraq to export oil in exchange for humanitarian aid under UN supervision.

Ibrahim Hesqel was instrumental in facilitating Iraq's resumption of some trade under this framework.

Ibrahim Hesqel was one of the most prominent Jewish figures in Iraq.

Ibrahim Hesqel's works were highly acclaimed and satisfied by the Jewish society of Iraq and were reported in Jewish magazine "The Scribe".

Ibrahim Hesqel worked for the government and was loyal to it.

Ibrahim Hesqel condemned the 1998 shooting incident at the headquarters of the Jewish community in Baghdad.

Ibrahim Hesqel stated that Jews were treated well and protected by the government.

Ibrahim Hesqel was one of the last Jews, who remained in Iraq.

Ibrahim Hesqel's family arrived in Baghdad and lived with him at his home in Rusafa.