World Tribune.com

Jews driven from homes in northern Yemen

SPECIAL TO WORLD TRIBUNE.COM
Wednesday, January 24, 2007

CAIRO — Shi'ite insurgents have jeopardized the tiny Jewish community in northern Yemen.

Fighters from the Iranian-backed Believing Youth have driven Jews out of their homes in the northern province of Saada near the border with Saudi Arabia. In 2004, Believing Youth launched an unsuccessful rebellion against Yemen, and renewed the campaign last year, Middle East Newsline reported.

"We are a total of 45 Jews," Dawoud Yousuf Mousa, a Jewish representative, said. "We left our houses in Al Haid area in Sadaa for shelter at a hotel here in the city of Sadaa, after we received warnings to leave our country, Yemen, within 10 days from the date of the threat letter."

The Jews received an ultimatum from the Believing Youth that expired on Jan. 20. Since then, they have rebuffed government efforts to return home.

"After precise surveillance of the Jews living in Al Haid," a message sent by the Believing Youth read, "it has become clear to us that they were doing things which serve mainly Zionism, which seeks to corrupt the people and distance them from their principles, their values, their morals, and their religion."

On Monday, the Believing Youth issued a statement that denied threats against the Jews of northern Yemen. The movement denies that its members sent the threatening letter.

Officials said Yemeni authorities have pledged to protect the Jews, in a hotel in Saada since Jan. 17. They said Believing Youth fighters, whose homes were destroyed by the army during the Shi'ite insurgency, have sought to pressure the Yemeni government by threatening to take over Jewish houses.

"Yes, they received threats from Al Houthi supporters," Saada Deputy Gov. Salem Al Wehayshi, referring to the slain clerical leader of the Believing Youth, told the Abu Dhabi-based Gulf News. "They are now here in the hotel. But I can assure you that the problem will be solved today, and they will return to their villages."


Copyright © 2007 East West Services, Inc.

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