It is a huge mistake for Israel to speak of security and not the really important issue: our righful legal ownership of Judea, Samaria and the Jewish Homeland Mandate. The Israeli government hides Israel's ownership of our land when we should shout it from every rooftop. Why not bring international law experts to the U.N. to prove Israeli ownership of "disputed" lands? And our right to compensation from Arab nations for Jewish refugees from Arab lands. Far more Jews were forced to flee Arab lands than the number of Arabs who fled Israel.

town; no, in the world.

the jews who left arab countries are not refugees because simply they left a place is not their country and went to their country so how can call them refugees but the palestinians left their homeland and went to another people country and will never back to palestine again ...these people called refugees

To blame BBC and other international media about the fate of the Sephardo-Mizrahi in Arab lands story, is disingenuous.. Israeli governments, earlier in the first decades, decided for their own international narrative (the introduction of Israel as a nation inhabited by ex-Europeans, thus the underlying affinity to such enlightened camp to belong to) are complicit to the hiding of such historical events, the Jewish communities in Arab lands have been encouraged, threatened and vilified to leave their memories and physical assets (in the billions, even then) of their over two millinaires' historical homes. Books have been written as early as 1949, symposiums, conferences and various magazines have spread the bad news far and wide. But the "all powerful Jewish media" was not a partner?! As for Israeli leaders, it was not the right thing to do as it helps bringin in immigrants, to help energise the new country's systems: economical, and security in the South and North parts that were sparsely inhabitated. So, it is an unfortunate intersection of multiple interests that the Sephardo-Mizrahi are still paying for in Israel, three-to-four Generations later.

To explain further the "complicity" of Israeli governments in taking rather an attitude of ignoring the Sephardo-Mizrahi 'refugee status' for over sixty years, suffice to remind the readers that Ben Gurion has declared in the mid-50s that Israel should mind the levantisation of the nascent Nation' s cultural future (and that while the Moroccan Jews coming to Israel to inhabit and defend its borders). While Golda Meyer said about the Panthers "theyre not nice". Well, the Sephardo-Mizrahi immigrants became PROPS in a film dictated by Interests. Suffice to repeat Maimonidis saying: HAMEVIN YAVIN. (more or less)

moral and legal rights as members of the Jewish people, and stand by these rights rather than bow down and try to understand others' "rights", which are no, since they are only demands presented as rights.

You've hit the nail on the head as far as I'm concerned. Jewish ownership of the land is the really vital issue - otherwise all that's left is the so called' occupation'.

There are not any Jewish refugees from Arab lands and never were. Jewish immigration from Arab countries was their choice, they were never forced or fled intimidation. Palestinian refugees left in massive waves- Jewish immigrants left very slowly over the course of decades. And most left for ideological reasons- Zionism. The "Forgotten" refugees claim is a myth that has largely been rehashed over the last 5 years.

This article is so misleading. For political reasons this issue is being brought up after 64 years. Danny ayalon is on a blind mission trying to mislead the world and the Jews from Arab lands are once again being used for political purposes. The fact is most Jews from Arab lands came to Israel because they believed in Zionism. Many will tell you that they had good relationship with their Arab neighbors. There is a video on youtube interviewing Jews from Arab lands are most of them say they came to Israel because they wanted and dreamed of being here. Though there were riots after Israel was created and hostility increased during this time, but that was not enough reason for 800000 Jews to leave their 2000 year old lands. The Jews were eager to come to Israel and many walked bare feet to reach Israel. Also the economic conditions in Israel were much better

Since the 'Palestinians' already have three homelands - Gaza, Jordan and potentially the ancient Jewish 'West Bank' ( Shomron and Judah ) why should they also get the Levant when they already have 80% of former Palestine? And compensation too? From whom? Maybe the EU could make a further contribution or the UN? Once the International Community figures out where all the previous billions have ended up they could come with a new payment schedule?

I do not know where you get your information but talk to the Egyptian Jews. They were practically thrown out of the country by Naser that they called home for centuries. My in laws were told to leave the city of Alexandria with only 2 suitcases per person and no more than 200 francs per person. All property was confiscated. Egypt was home to a highly educated Jewish community especially the cities of Cairo and Alexandria until Naser.

A few questions. 1. You say:" ... and went to their country". It means Israel is ours, and you are right. 2. "... and will never back to Palestine again " On which planet and where was a country called Palestine and where do you assume it nowadays? 3." The Jews who left arab countries are not refugees because simply they left a place is not their country." You are a supporter of ethically cleansing. So you have no problem to send home all Algerians and Marooceans from France to North Africa, all non Britains back to India and Pakistan and where ever they are from, all not Indians back from North America, .... all so called Palestinians back to Syria, Lebanon and Egypt? Great Idea.

8,000 sq mi - so you are saying that all of israeli land inside the "green line" is stolen. then how about returning the 87,000 sq mi of minnesota that you european white guys stole from the native americans.

The UN has never shown FAVORITISM toward Palestinians, just hatred of Israel and Jews.

It was the Jews who were ethnically cleansed from the ME, not the arabs who are still the majority , and the effort to continue to cleanse Jews from Judea and Samaria is occurring right now. Why no one thinks that the Pals already have a state in Jordan, where they are a majority, is again part of the effort to take Judea from the Jews, thinking that it will weaken them.

If Jews had not left Arab states, there would be no Israel. If those Zionists are not Zionists but refugees, they will some day move back to their country of origin and leave Israel to Palestinians. Is it wise under negotiations to remind everyone, that most of the Jews are not born between the river and the sea while most of the Palestinians are?

the jews of jerusalem were under siege.

For those who want to understand what happened to Jews in Arab countries, this is the best documentary movie: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KH8RL2XRr48 "The Forgotten Refugees" was screened in the US, in Israel on Channel1 and in many other countries. Pass it on.

"They walked bare feet"? In over 30°? I hope you understand your own nonsense.

It is not possible to "steal" that which belongs to you. Have you ever stopped to contemplate which native American tribe actually owns the land upon which you squat? When are you planning to restore your home to its rightful owners?

Almost all of those you listed were the colonialist's collaborators and goons that had to run when their masters did ,... Some of them like those in Iraq were forced by zionist false flag terrorism ,...

You can read about real Jewish victims just google "THE JEWS OF IRAQ" by Naeim Giladi (available on line) and read who made them run and how it was done ,...

Sarah; Steve Benassi does not care on the land he lives on He ain't Italian dear,just a dress name Suleiman Ben Assi or something like that There are more burcas in Silver Mine MN than cowboy hats x sure

When Britain left India it was partitioned into mainly Hindu India and mainly Islamic Pakistan, with large population swaps. After each world war there were altered borders and movement of population. Arab countries should accept Pal refugees.

The facts and figures are clear, but the world media have pushed Jews from Muslim lands out of the big picture. For a full account see Sir martin Gilbert, 'In Ishmael's House: A History of Jews in Muslim Lands'.

You can see 400 pages of exact facts and figures in Yale University publication, 'In Ishmael's House: A History of Jews in Muslim Lands' by Sir Martin Gilbert , one of the world's leading authorities on 20th Century history

In 1920 Britain accepted the League of Nations Mandate for Palestine with the specific purpose of helping set up a renewed Jewish homeland. Jews were expwected to come home, but very few Jews from Muslim lands chose to go home to Israel. Mostly European Jews accepted the challenge of rebuilding their ancestral homeland. Jews from Muslim lands suddenly came in huge numbers beginning in 1948 when Islamic states began persecution of Jews as retaliation for the creation of a Jewish state i Palestine. Some of us are old enough to remember!

Wait a second. Make up your mind. If the Jews left countries not theirs to go to their homeland and that homeland was Israel then how could the Palestinians also claim their homeland as Israel ?