The tragedy of expelled Jews from Arab countries: the forgotten tragedy
by Baudry Pierre · Published · Updated
The expulsion of Jews from Arab countries after World War II was a complex and often overlooked phenomenon in the history of the Middle East as the French historian, Georges Bensoussan, wrote in wonderful, extremely informative and thorough book Jews in Arab Countries: The Great Uprooting. Studies in Antisemitism. Bloomington, Indiana: Indiana University Press, 2019.
Following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, many Arab countries experienced a series of events that led to the mass departure of their Jewish communities. It is estimated that approximately between 700,000 and 850,000 Jews were forcibly expelled or chose to leave countries such as Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and others, significantly altering the religious and cultural composition of the region.
The causes of these departures were diverse and intricate. The establishment of the State of Israel heightened tensions between Jewish and Arab communities, resulting in increased violence and discrimination against Jews in several Arab countries. Arab governments often scapegoated Jews, accusing them of supporting Israel, and implemented discriminatory policies, including property confiscation and restriction of civil rights.
Morocco had a Jewish population of around 250,000 before World War II. After the post-WWII Exodus, a significant number of Moroccan Jews emigrated, and by the early 1950s, it is estimated that about 100,000 Jews had left Morocco.
Algeria had a Jewish population of around 140,000 before in the 1940s. The Algerian War of Independence (1954–1962) marked a period of significant departure for the Jewish population. After gaining independence in 1962, the Jewish population in Algeria dramatically decreased. Today, only a small number of Jews remain (maybe around 200).
Iraq was one of the countries where the expulsion of Jews was particularly pronounced. After the creation of the State of Israel, discriminatory laws were enacted, and in 1950, a law was passed allowing the confiscation of property from Jews leaving for Israel. In 1951, Operation Ezra and Nehemiah was launched, facilitating the emigration of 120.000 of Iraqi Jews to Israel. Other countries adopted similar policies, leading to a massive exodus of Jewish communities established for centuries.
In Egypt, the nationalization of the Suez Canal by President Gamal Abdel Nasser in 1956 exacerbated tensions between Egyptians and the Jewish community. Discriminatory laws were enacted, leading to property confiscation and deteriorating living conditions for Egyptian Jews. Around 75.000 Jews fled from the 1950s, significantly reducing a community that had thrived in Egypt since antiquity.
Libya experienced episodes of anti-Jewish violence, including pogroms in the 1940s and 1950s. In 1967, during the Six-Day War, the Libyan Jewish community was particularly targeted, resulting in the emigration of nearly all Jews from the country.
Syria also implemented discriminatory policies, with laws confiscating the property of Jews and limiting their civil rights. The vast majority of Syrian Jews emigrated to Israel, primarily during the 1950s.
In Yemen, violence and persecution erupted against the Jewish community after the establishment of the State of Israel. Thousands of Yemeni Jews were evacuated to Israel in operations such as “Magic Carpet” in the 1940s and 1950s.
The expulsion of Jews from Arab countries was a painful process with profound consequences for Jewish communities and the Middle East as a whole. These events marked the end of centuries-old Jewish communities in many Arab countries, leaving behind rich and diverse cultural heritages. Their impact on regional dynamics and relations between Israel and Arab countries persists to this day.
A fascinating documentary of the Jewish refugees from the Arab countries by Michael Grynszpan.
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OpenEdition suggests that you cite this post as follows:
Baudry Pierre (January 24, 2024). The tragedy of expelled Jews from Arab countries: the forgotten tragedy. Deciphering international politics - religion, economics and international affairs. Retrieved March 17, 2025 from https://doi.org/10.58079/tl3o