Indiscreet publicity regarding the organization of a special
"aliya operation" for Jews in Tunisia and Morocco following
the terrorist bombing in Djerba could endanger Jews there who
currently enjoy freedom and equal rights, warn immigrants
from North Africa.
Two weeks ago reports in Israel surfaced that a covert,
emergency aliya operation was being planned for Moroccan and
Tunisian Jews. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said, "We have
been receiving reports on a state of emergency among Jews in
Morocco and in Tunisia and we are examining possibilities to
induce these Jews to immigrate to Israel." A high-ranking
Jewish Agency official said, "Current discussions focus on
the question of improving the terms of absorption for
immigrants from these countries so that when the Jews receive
the information it will help encourage them to immigrate."
In contrast, spokesmen for various kehillos in those
areas expressed satisfaction with the current situation in
their respective countries. The King of Morocco, currently on
a visit to the United States, included the president of
Morocco's Jewish community, Serge Bardugo, as part of his
entourage. Sam Ben-Shitreet, chairman of the World Federation
of Moroccan Jews, says, "What better evidence could there be
of the close relations between the royal court and the Jewish
community?"
"Relations between Israel and Morocco will remain good
forever," added Ben-Shitreet.
Says Andre Azoulai, the King's economic advisor, "Rumors
about a state of emergency are aggravating and provocative.
Unlike the situation in Israel, we live in harmony with our
Arab neighbors. An emergency plan of this sort could ruin our
relations with our Arab neighbors and could impact relations
between the Jewish community in Morocco and Israel."
According to press reports Jewish Agency representatives also
claim there is no emergency plan. Anyone who wants to
immigrate to Israel comes of his own free will, generally via
France.
Some 3,000 Jews currently reside in Morocco and another 2,000
in Tunisia. During 2001, 92 immigrants arrived from Morocco
and 16 arrived from Tunisia. These were primarily young
people seeking new opportunities rather than leaving as a
result of any crisis situation.
Some Israeli officials, who want to increase the number of
immigrants at any price, take advantage of antisemitic
incidents and economic crises to initiate "aliya operations"
-- or reports of such operations -- in most cases at the
expense of Jews from the countries involved. The economic
situation in Argentina also led the Jewish Agency and the
government to create widespread publicity regarding special
benefits for Argentinean immigrants and interest among Jews
in the possibility of aliya. Later it became clear that few
of the hundreds of thousands of Jews living there wanted to
immigrate. Critics pointed out that the publicity might have
fostered antisemitism, which did not develop despite the dire
economic conditions.
In France as well, Jews have not shown increased interest in
aliya despite the antisemitic incidents plaguing the country.
Instead they are trying to cope with the situation through
internal channels, and the elections last Sunday demonstrated
that a majority of the country opposes the Far Right. Reports
of campaigns to encourage aliya are liable to provide
antisemites with ammunition for anti-Jewish propaganda.
