Jews Flee Arab Countries

After Israel declared itself as an independent state, the Arab countries either declared war or backed the war against Israel. The Jews living in these Arab countries were either forceably uprooted from the countries of longtime residence, or they became subjugated from second class citizens to third class citizens. Jewish life became so filled with the imposed hardships of repressive measures, human rights violations, often coupled with violence, that almost all of them left the country.

What were these hardships?

Since 1948, it is estimated that nearly 1,000,000 Jews left their birthplaces and homes in about 10 Arab countries. Today there are less than 10,000 Jews that remain in these same countries.

According to international law, the fleeing Jews became refugees and fell under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

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