A forgotten chapter in Middle Eastern history

The global narrative surrounding the Middle East often centers on one storyline, but rarely acknowledges another equally important and long-overlooked chapter. It is the untold story of nearly 850,000 Jews who were expelled or forced to flee from Arab and Muslim-majority countries in the mid-20th century. 

Uprooted from ancient communities across the region—some thousands of years old—these Jewish refugees lost their homes, livelihoods, and heritage. 

Yet their plight remains largely forgotten, overshadowed by louder political narratives. As regimes that once turned against their Jewish populations now speak out on other injustices, it is time to ask: Why has this chapter been erased from the history books?

This analysis, written by Claude Amar, a specialist in Middle Eastern affairs and the history of Jewish migration from Arab countries, highlights a long-overlooked dimension of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict: the forced displacement of approximately 850,000 Jews from Arab and Muslim lands between 1948 and 1972. 

These ancient communities, some dating back thousands of years, were dismantled through pogroms, discriminatory laws, expulsions, and the confiscation of property following the creation of the State of Israel. Despite the scale and suffering involved, this exodus has received little international attention or recognition.

Amar underscores that Jewish life was once deeply rooted in cities like Baghdad, Cairo, and Aleppo, where Jews contributed significantly to culture, trade, and religious scholarship. 

Yet within a generation, these communities vanished. Meanwhile, the assets left behind—valued at over $300 billion—were seized by the very regimes that today highlight the Palestinian refugee issue.

The analysis draws attention to a critical imbalance: while Palestinian refugees have been the subject of continuous international focus and aid through UNRWA, Jewish refugees from Arab lands were absorbed by Israel without special international support. 

This contrast has contributed to a distorted global narrative that portrays Israel as a colonial project imposed by Europe, ignoring the fact that over half of Israel’s Jewish population descends from Middle Eastern and North African communities.

Amar also examines the history of Gaza, noting its development under Israeli administration from 1967 to 2005—including significant progress in healthcare, education, and infrastructure—and the decline that followed under Hamas rule. 

He highlights how foreign aid intended for humanitarian needs has often been diverted to build military capabilities, including underground networks, rather than a sustainable economy.

From a legal standpoint, Amar presents arguments rooted in international law that challenge current interpretations of territorial rights. He revisits the 1920 San Remo Conference, the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine, and UN Charter Article 80 to demonstrate that Jewish legal claims to territories like the West Bank are not recent or illegitimate.

The analysis further critiques how Cold War-era Soviet propaganda reshaped global understanding of the conflict, casting Palestinians as the only victims while erasing the historical presence and suffering of Jews in the Middle East. 

He also warns of the risks of establishing a Palestinian state split between Gaza and the West Bank, drawing a parallel with the failed two-part structure of Pakistan and the eventual secession of Bangladesh.

Events such as the pogroms of the 1920s and the massacre of October 7, 2023, are cited as part of a longer continuum of anti-Jewish violence, predating the creation of Israel. Amar argues that such violence should not be excused or mischaracterized as "resistance," as doing so conceals the deeper historical roots of antisemitism in the region.

In conclusion, Claude Amar asserts that lasting peace requires restoring historical truth. Ignoring the plight of Jews from Arab countries, denying Israel’s legal foundations, and perpetuating one-sided narratives only deepen misunderstanding and conflict. 

For justice to be real and peace to be possible, both sides of the refugee story must be acknowledged, and Israel must be recognized not as a colonial anomaly, but as a sovereign return of an indigenous people to their ancestral homeland.