Update: The Jerusalem Post signals that the refugees are a mixed Jewish-Muslim family.
A Syrian-Jewish family has been secretly smuggled into Israel and out of harm's way in a dramatic rescue operation, Ynet News has revealed. By Point of No Return's calculation, this leaves just two Jews still in Damascus. (With thanks: Michelle)
This was the first time in over three years of the Syrian civil war that a Jewish family has left the war-torn country for Israel. They made the secret journey in a number of phases until they were reunited just before Independence Day at the beginning of May this year.
The story has been known for some time now, but because the operation was still taking place, it was put under censor. Even now, the story's full details cannot be published.
In the first stage the mother and the eldest son crossed into Turkey with the help of both Israelis and non-Israelis who cannot be identified. After a few weeks additional family members made their way into Israel.
A source closely involved in the issue told Ynet that "what is amazing is that out of nine million Syrians who have been left without a home, these nine have a home and it is the State of Israel. We must understand that if they wouldn't have made it to Israel, they would have remained homeless."
"When they left they were afraid, but more from the possible ramifications it could have on Israel.
According to assessments, only a handful of Syria's once-thriving Jewish community still lives in the country. Like the holy sites of Christians, those belonging to Jews have also been targeted or at least fallen victim to fighting.
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Jerusalem Post
Syrian Jews would have been slaughtered
Several months ago it was rumoured that 6 Jews were smuggled out. The evidence was not persuasive and the source controversial. Similarly the notion that now a family of 9 Jews has been smuggled out of Syria does not tally with the historic information available. The remaining Jews are elderly and single. The Cameos, who remain, are a family of three single siblings and to my knowledge constitute the largest "family". 9 is implausible. It may yet transpire that should such an undertaking have taken place , the facts of which have yet to emerge, that the individuals involved may prove not to be Jewish at all. (Irrespective, I wish them a better life in Israel than war-torn Syria). Adam Blitz @blitz_adam
ReplyDeleteadam.blitz@columnist.com http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/author/adam-blitz/
As we all already know, it's probably a Jewish woman with a Muslim husband and kids. And there is a big chance she isn't even Jewish herself.
ReplyDeleteJust what the country needs, more people like Souad Zaki and her grandchildren Uri and Iris...