An account of the precarious situation of the Jews in the Unite Arab Republic was given here today by a Jewish refugee from Egypt who recently arrived here. While declaring that there was no official persecution of the Jews, the refugee, who was not identified, said that Egyptian Jews are discriminated against and that such prejudice was officially encouraged.
The Jew is allowed to practice his religion undisturbed in the synagogue, where he is eve afforded police protection against any possible incidents. Elsewhere, he is a fourth class citizen. As long as his business has some useful part to play in the machinery of the country, is tolerated. When he is no longer needed, he is encouraged or even forced to leave, the source said.
When a Jewish family decides to leave Egypt–and more and more Jews are forced to talk this way out–his name is entered in the “black book” of the Customs authorities with a notation beside it: “Jew – not to return”. He is then allowed to take only 20 Egyptian pounds out of the country and, if he is lucky, he may take all his personal effects with him. Often, however, he leaves with no more than a handbag. Invariably he finds it impossible to sell any real property business, which he must abandon.
Jewish youngsters cannot find jobs in Egypt and must leave or face insecure futures. Jew institutions such as hospitals, schools and banks have been sequestered by the Government.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
