Focus
Question of Jewish refugees from Arab countries discussed in Knesset
A forum on the rights of Jewish refugees from Arab countries was held at the Knesset in Jerusalem as Israel’s parliament is set to debate a bill that would make the issue an integral part of Middle East peace negotiations. read more »
» Knesset approves bill calling for recognition of Jewish refugees from Arab lands
» Mr. Stanley Urman at the WJC Strategic Forum, Jerusalem, 19 October 2009 
Overwhelmingly negative attitudes toward Jews in Islamic countries
A survey conducted by Pew Research in 25 countries has found that the populations of nearly all Muslim countries hold very negative attitudes toward Jews. read more »
» French 'Nazi hunter' talks about Holocaust in Middle Eastern countries
» How concerned are you that or your family could be a victim of a terrorist attack? 
» Rabbi Michael Melchior at the WJC Strategic Forum, Jerusalem, 19 October 2009
Egyptian police foiled Islamist terror plot against Jewish pilgrims
Police in Egypt said they had arrested 25 Muslim extremists suspected of having planned a terrorist attack against Jewish pilgrims who visited the grave of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira near Alexandria. read more »
» Islamists in Paris issue death threats against "imam of the Jews"
» How concerned are you that or your family could be a victim of a terrorist attack?
» Mr. Mike Whine at the WJC Strategic Forum, Jerusalem, 19 October 2009
Latest News
Egypt cancels ceremony at Cairo synagogue, blaming Jews and Israel 15 Mar 2010
The Egyptian government canceled an inauguration ceremony for the restored Maimonides Synagogue in Cairo in response to “provocative actions” by Jews in Cairo last week and restrictions placed on Muslim worshipers in Jerusalem by the Israeli government. read more »
Maimonides Synagogue in Cairo re-dedicated in presence of foreign dignitaries 08 Mar 2010
A historic synagogue in Cairo was re-dedicated in the presence of international Jewish leaders and foreign diplomats, following a two-year restoration effort funded by Egyptian authorities. read more »
Knesset approves bill calling for recognition of Jewish refugees from Arab lands 23 Feb 2010
Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has passed a bill aimed at securing compensation for Jewish refugees from Arab countries and Iran as part of future peace negotiations in the Middle East. read more »
Question of Jewish refugees from Arab countries discussed in Knesset 19 Feb 2010
A forum on the rights of Jewish refugees from Arab countries was held at the Knesset in Jerusalem as Israel’s parliament is set to debate a bill that would make the issue an integral part of Middle East peace negotiations. read more »
Israel vies to bring Mideast Jewish refugees into talks - Jerusalem Post 19 Feb 2010
New bill to seek compensation for eastern Jews and cement their narrative as an integral part of any future peace negotiations. read more »
Who will pray at Lebanon's rebuilt synagogue? - BBC News, UK 04 Feb 2010
Rumours of the reconstruction of the city's historic Magen-Abraham Synagogue have been around for years but no one, it seems, could quite believe their eyes when the work actually began. read more »
Falash Mura again airlifted from Ethiopia to Israel 20 Jan 2010
Israel has resumed a scheme halted in August 2008 and plans to bring 2,000 Falash Mura – Ethiopians of Jewish descent – from Ethiopia to Israel. read more »
Iraq wants United States to return historic Jewish archive 18 Jan 2010
Iraqi authorities have asked the United States for the return of the historic Iraqi Jewish Archive after it was brought to the United States from Baghdad in the wake of the 2003 war. read more »
Israeli pilgrims flock to grave of Moroccan rabbi in Egypt 05 Jan 2010
Several hundred Israeli Jews have come to Egypt for their pilgrimage to the tomb of Rabbi Yaakov Abuhatzeira in Alexandria after Egyptian authorities eased travel restrictions read more »
Seeking tales of Jews fleeing from Arab countries 03 Dec 2009
By Sue Fishkoff in San Francisco read more »
Materials
'Jews Displaced From Arab Lands Finally Recognized' By Nathan Jeffay - Foreward 10 Mar 2010
For the first time since they came to Israel, all 10 Jewish communities displaced from Arab countries have agreed on a course of action to address their grievances — and triumphed in the political arena. read more »
WJC & Jews from Arab Lands
The story of the Jews in Arab lands forms a major gap in most of the world's knowledge of the history of the Middle East. Jewish presence in what are now Arab lands long predates Islam and the Arab conquest of the Middle East and goes back to Biblical times. In 1945, there were approximately 866,000 Jews living in communities throughout the Arab world. Today, there are fewer than 7,000. In many Arab states, once thriving Jewish communities have all but disappeared. According to official statistics, 856,000 Jews left their homes in Arab countries between 1948 and the early 1970s leaving behind substantial property and other assets.
In April 2008, the US House of Representatives unanimously adopted a resolution calling for the recognition of Jewish, Christian, and other refugees from Arab lands. The resolution states that any agreement between Israelis and Palestinians must include recognition of Jewish refugees as well. The resolution makes it clear that the subject should be brought before the UN General Assembly again, to have it recognize the plight of the Arabic Jews.
The plight of Jews who fled from, or still live in, Arab lands and their specific concerns are not well-known and need to be raised with governments and international organisations.
Actions taken on behalf of those communities still residing in Arab lands must be done in consort with the communal leadership lest such interventions create further problems and dangers for the resident Jewish community.
Illegal seizure of assets that took place should remain on record, to preserve the right of restitution claims by former owners and their heirs.
Jewish communal sites in Arab countries must be preserved and respected and must receive the same care and attention presently shown to similar sites by Jewish communities in the rest of the world.
Comments
Priority Issues
WJC & The Iranian Threat
Iran's nuclear ambitions pose a threat to its neighbors and the world. Iran is a leading sponsor of terrorism. Iranian leaders, above all President Ahmadinejad, repeatedly question or deny the Holocaust and threaten Israel. read more »
WJC & Combating anti-Semitism
Anti-Semitism is still a deeply-rooted phenomenon in many democracies, despite efforts by governments and NGOs to tackle it. In addition to 'traditional' anti-Semitism, new forms and expressions of anti-Semitism are being manifested around the world. read more »
WJC & Fighting terrorism
Jews, and Jewish sites, are often the main targets of terrorists. The WJC works to fight terrorism by advocating a halt in arms proliferation to terrorist groups, better international cooperation, and the protection of Jewish institutions. read more »
WJC & Supporting Israel
Around the world, Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state is constantly questioned. The WJC and its affiliates actively defend the legitimacy of Israel on all levels and support the state against unfair and biased attacks. read more »
WJC & the Legacy of the Holocaust
Seven decades after the Shoah, some countries still have not returned stolen Jewish property. The WJC defends the rights of the victims and their heirs. It also strives to ensure that the greatest crime in the history of mankind is not denied or trivialized. read more »
WJC & Jews from Arab Lands
The plight and concerns of Jews who fled from,or still live in, Arab lands after 1948 are not well-known. The WJC is committed to raising this issue with governments and international organizations. read more »
WJC & Promoting Inter-Faith Dialogue
The WJC has always spearheaded dialogue between the three Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Inter-faith cooperation can make an important contribution to peace around the world and to better understanding between communities in our societies. read more »
Get Involved
