Ariel Center for
Policy Research

A JOURNAL OF POLITICS AND THE ARTS

 

NATIV   ■   Volume Thirteen   ■   Number 6 (77)  ■  November 2000   ■  Ariel Center for Policy Research

 

SYNOPSIS

 


The Lost Jewish Property in Iraq

Itamar Levin

The Jews of Iraq, who numbered 120,000 in 1948, have been persecuted since the establishment of the State of Israel. However, in March 1950, the Iraqi government gave them permission to emigrate to Israel on the condition that they give up their citizenship. Tens of thousands of Jews left Iraq in the course of the following year after being forced to sell their property at a very low value. They were forbidden to take most of the proceeds with them.

In March 1951, the Iraqi government froze - with no warning - all of the assets of the remaining Jews who were no longer permitted to sell their property at all. Thus, tens of thousands left the country penniless and many were robbed by Iraqi customs officials and police officers of whatever jewelry, money or possessions they had left. The estimated current value of the seized Jewish property in Iraq is $3-4 billion.

Following the Six Day War, the remnants of the Jewish community came under a rule of terror, which included arrests, torture and executions. The Jews lost all of their sources of income and savings due to an official policy of discrimination. Almost all of the Jews fled Iraq in the early 1970s leaving all of their belongings behind.

ACPR Contact usNativ Index