A Jewish man and an airport worker in Yemen have been arrested under the accusation of aiding in the smuggling of an antique Sefer Torah from the war-torn country to Israel, the Jewish Chronicle reports.

Last week, 19 Yemini Jews were airlifted to Israel in what officials called a “complex, covert operation” that was carried out with the assistance of the Jewish Agency and the US State Department.

The group from Raydah included the community’s rabbi, who brought a Sefer Torah believed to be between 500 and 600 years old.

The airport employee is accused of purposely allowing the rabbi through security with the Sefer Torah, said the Jewish Chronicle.

According to the Jewish Chronicle, circulating images of Israeli Prime Minsiter Benjamin Netanyahu welcoming the group of Yemini Jews to Israel, including one of Netanyahu with the Rabbi and the Torah, prompted the arrests. The Yemini government reportedly feels that the torah is the property of Yemen.

According to the Jewish Chronicle, Jewish Agency spokesman Avi Mayer was not able to confirm reports of the arrests.

Asked about the torah, Mayer said that “the ancient Torah scroll brought from Yemen to Israel this week is the property of the Raydah Jewish community, of Yemenite Jewry, and of the Jewish people.”

“The notion that the Torah should have been left, without protection, in a country torn apart by a violent civil war involving several parties that are viciously hostile to Jews, is preposterous. The Torah is part of the proud heritage of Yemenite Jewry and that heritage will live on in the state of Israel,” he added.

(Source: i24News)