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."