International Sephardic Leadership Council
and Justice for Jews from Arab Countries
The
International Sephardic Leadership Council (ISLC),
in cooperation with Justice for Jews from Arab Countries
(JJAC), is actively participating in an effort to document
the human rights violations against Jews from Arab countries
who were forced to flee their homes, and to chronicle
their experience in order to create an enduring legal
record of this historic injustice.
Securing
rights and redress for Jews displaced from Arab countries
is an issue that has not yet been adequately addressed
by the international community. In fact, there were more
former Jewish refugees uprooted from Arab countries (over
850,000) than there were Palestinians who became refugees
as a result of the 1948 war when six Arab nations attacked
the fledgling State of Israel.
This
is not a campaign against Arabs--this a campaign to ensure
the proper historical record is documented. While the
Arabs have many linear feet of documentation and claims,
the Jewish refugees have documented very little. We stand
to correct this problem, by collecting statements and
registering Jews from Arab countries and their descendants.
This is also very important as the Arabs push to develop
a new state in the Middle East; we must show documentation
of the numerous Jewish claims to the United Nations, claims
from Middle Eastern and North African refugees--the Jews.
- OVERVIEW
of the topic and situation
(As
of February 2006)
- REGISTER
The push to gather stories and documentation
- VIDEO
A Personal Call for Jews from Arab Countries to Register
Their
Family Histories with Justice for Jews from Arab Countries
by Regina
Waldman
- REPORT:
"JEWISH REFUGEES FROM ARAB COUNTRIES: THE CASE FOR
RIGHTS AND REDRESS"
- POPULATION:
Table showing Jewish Population in Arab Countries 1948-2001
- RIGHTS
of Jews from Arab Lands - Israeli Government Decision
JJAC
is a coalition of Jewish communal organizations operating
under the auspices of the Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organizations and many other organizations.
This is a major international campaign that was founded
by Mr. S. Daniel Abraham and is coordinated by Mr. Stanley
Urman. This
campaign is supported and fully endorsed by the Israeli
Justice Ministry, President Moshe Katsav and rabbinical
leaders around the world.
In
partnership and under the guidance of JJAC, the International
Sephardic Leadership Council is explaining, circulating
information and lobbying in appropriate forums (the U.S.
Congress, The European Parliament, etc.). There is also
an ongoing campaign to establish contacts and building
structures of cooperation with various representative
organizations and Diaspora communities. In the near future,
legislation will be reintroduced in the U.S. Congress
to make it US policy to mention “Jewish refugees”
whenever there is a mention of Palestinian refugees in
any official documents or resolution including at the
UN.
©
Copyright ISLC International Sephardic Leadership Council
|
Sasson
Muallem, 97, who fled with his family from Iraq in 1971,
and left a brick factory estimated to be worth $200 million
today, sits in his Tel Aviv home. On his lap, he holds mementos
of the past, including a photo of the factory and a book
he wrote. Photo by Brian Hendler
FORGOTTEN
REFUGEES
A
film about the mass exodus of Jews from Arab countries and
Iran in the 20th century.
A
Film by
The
David Project
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