The World Jewish Congress (WJC) co-sponsored* an event at the United Nations headquarters this week to commemorate the forgotten Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

It recalled the rich history of the Jewish communities of the Middle East and North Africa who were persecuted and forced to flee from the countries in which they had lived for millennia from the 1940’s through to the 1970’s.

In 2014, the Government of Israel designated November 30th as the official day to mark this tragic period in Jewish history.

Speakers at this week’s event included Israel’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Danny Danon, U.S. State Department Special Envoy to Combat and Monitor Anti-Semitism Elan Carr, and human rights activist and former Miss Iraq Sarah Idan.

Ambassador Danon outlined his plans for placing the issue on the UN’s agenda, stating that, “denying the rights of Jewish refugees” is an attempt “to erase them from the narrative and an antisemitic historic injustice.”

“To correct this, Israel will propose a resolution that will reaffirm the Jewish refugees place in history and assure that their rights are recognised.”

He added that he can see no legitimate reason for any member state to oppose the resolution.

Following the event, WJC North America chair Evelyn Sommer said that, for too long, the world has ignored the plight the Jewish refugees from Arab countries, who were persecuted and forcibly expelled from lands that had been their homes for hundreds and hundreds of years.

“These Jewish refugees from countries such as Libya, Iraq and Yemen, among others, had to flee their homes in distress during the 1940’s to the 1970’s, leaving everything behind.

“It is high time to right the record of history and to recognize the facts about the Jewish communities that once lived throughout the Middle East and North Africa and to educate  others about their rich heritage and culture.”

The WJC has been deeply active in the efforts to call the attention of the UN and the  international community to this history in order to ensure that these Jewish communities will be remembered and their stories commemorated, she said.

*Alongside the WJC, the event was co-sponsored with other Jewish organisations and the Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations.