© Ronen Zvulun/Reuters
As many as 8,000 babies may have been stolen or killed in experiments during the early 1950s in Israel
As many as 8,000 babies may have been stolen or killed in experiments during the early 1950s in Israel
The mystery of the missing children has plagued Israel for decades, with evidence mounting that at least some of the babies were trafficked by hospitals and orphanages - possibly with the connivance of Israeli officials.
Other documents indicate some children may have died during experiments conducted by hospitals without the parents' knowledge or consent.
The families hope two new initiatives based on DNA testing - including the opening of graves - will reveal whether their children were abducted, as many have long suspected, or died of natural causes, as Israeli officials maintain.
The vast majority of the children - potentially as many as 8,000 - were from Jewish families that had recently immigrated to Israel from Arab countries such as Yemen, Iraq, Tunisia and Morocco.
The Arab Jews, known in Israel as the Mizrahim, have faced well-documented racism and discrimination from Israeli authorities.
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