Last week, we marked Jewish Refugee Day, a time to remember the displacement of over 850,000 Jews violently expelled from Arab and Muslim lands following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948.
These Jews — who lived in Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Yemen and elsewhere for centuries — were forced to leave everything behind amid waves of persecution, discriminatory laws and violence. Their displacement stands as one of history’s overlooked tragedies, one that profoundly altered the Middle East and the Jewish world.
Interestingly, Jewish refugees — both European and Sephardic — have been fully integrated into the societies to which they fled. Survivors of the Holocaust and those exiled from Arab lands rebuilt their lives in Israel, the United States, Canada, France and elsewhere, contributing immeasurably to their adopted homelands.
In stark contrast, Arab-Palestinian refugees have been kept in perpetual limbo, with their status maintained by organizations like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), which was specifically created to preserve their refugee designation.
Unlike Jewish refugees, who had no dedicated agency to facilitate their resettlement, Palestinian refugees remain in so-called camps in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank — kept there as political tools to undermine Israel.
This disparity underscores a political agenda: Arab states, which drove out their Jewish citizens, also refused to permanently settle Palestinian refugees, perpetuating a narrative of victimhood. Meanwhile, Jewish refugees quietly rebuilt their lives, receiving little international recognition or compensation for their losses.
The Jewish communities of Arab lands, far from being “backward” as some stereotypes imply, were highly cultured, educated and integral to the economies and societies of the Middle East. These communities produced extraordinary figures who shaped the world. From Moses Montefiore, a British financier and philanthropist, to Doña Gracia Nasi, a Portuguese Renaissance-era business leader and patron of Jewish exiles, the Sephardic world boasts a remarkable heritage. The contributions of Maimonides, the philosopher, jurist, physician and prolific writer of the Middle Ages, remain foundational to Jewish thought and western intellectual history. Benjamin Disraeli, the British Prime Minister and novelist, exemplified Sephardic excellence in politics and literature, leaving a profound legacy in British history.
These great leaders highlight the extraordinary heritage from which the Sephardic world hails. In Baghdad, where Jews once made up a third of the population, in Cairo’s bustling Jewish quarters and in Casablanca’s thriving communities, Jewish life was vibrant and sophisticated. However, with the establishment of Israel, these communities faced escalating antisemitism (sound familiar?), violence and systemic exclusion. Entire families were forced to leave quietly, under cover of night, abandoning their homes, businesses and centuries of history.
Most sought refuge in Israel, where the nascent state faced the monumental challenge of absorbing waves of immigrants. Others resettled in western countries like France and Canada, where they started anew. Despite the hardships, these refugees rebuilt their lives with remarkable resilience and contributed significantly to their new homelands.
While Arab-Palestinian refugees dominate international discourse, the plight of Jewish refugees remains largely ignored. They have received no compensation for their confiscated properties, and their stories are often omitted from narratives about the Arab-Israeli conflict. Yet their unresolved claims are critical to understanding the full scope of displacement in the Middle East.
To address these historical injustices, five steps must be taken. First, there must be formal recognition of the plight of Jewish refugees from Arab lands and the injustices they endured. Second, compensation for the properties and assets they left behind must be prioritized in any future international agreements. Third, educational initiatives should highlight the contributions of Sephardic communities to the Arab world and their adopted countries, countering harmful stereotypes. Fourth, Jewish refugees must be included in discussions about reconciliation in the Middle East. Finally, efforts to preserve and celebrate their rich cultural heritage must be expanded to ensure future generations understand their legacy.
As we reflect on Jewish Refugee Day, it is clear that the Arab-Israeli conflict displaced Jewish refugees who have been largely forgotten. Addressing this imbalance is not only a matter of historical accuracy but a step toward justice.
The integration of Jewish refugees into their host countries stands as a testament to their strength and determination. By contrast, the deliberate perpetuation of Palestinian refugee status reveals a cynical use of human suffering for political ends. Recognition of the plight of Jewish refugees from Arab lands is critical in any peace agreement.
National Post
Avi Abraham Benlolo is the founder and CEO of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative.