Likud MKs Miki Zohar and Oren Chazon have announced they will be working to reclaim abandoned Jewish property in Arab lands. During a discussion in Knesset it was revealed that these efforts have been ongoing for years, albeit without success.
MK Zohar stated “The struggle is well beyond monetary, but one of principle. It is inconceivable that the principles identified with Israel’s Sephardic community in Israel are pushed aside. They say to us ‘don’t worry, it will work out’.
“I must identify with members of the Ethiopian community in the country who are experiencing today what was experienced when the Sephardim arrived in Israel. This kind of disregard that everything is taken from granted.
“Today, the Sephardi community is strongly assimilated into society and has managed to attain key positions. One sees that today the Sephardim have achieve fair representation but we mustn’t forget this is the result of great struggles. This time the struggle will not be simple either but we are not people that are put off”.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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One model might be, based on how the US and Mexico resolved property claims after the Mexican War, would be for the Arab countries to pay off the Palestinian’s claims, and Israel to pay off the claims of Jews from Arab countries. The biggest problem with this is Israel’s policy of trying to make peace with each country seperately rather then seeing a comprehensive settlement.
Other problems include that most Arab countries are more likely to offer to allow the Jews to return. Another problem is as was the case in Europe, reparations benefit those who were rich before, and for the most part still are — whereas those who were poor in the old country, and tend to still be poor, get little or nothing.