Jews of Kurdistan in trouble

Note: I know there are still Jews in Kurdistan and probably in Baghdad, as they have written to me. -- Ami Isseroff

 

Kurdistan won't expel Jews, but can't secure them

There are no cats in America. Or are there? The embarrassing question of whether there are still Jews in Kurdistan - and what to do with them - has reared its ugly head again, according to a Kurdish reporter whose name we are withholding for his own safety (With thanks: Ami).

The government of Kurdistan is being urged by hard-line officials publically to declare that there are no Jews in Iraqi Kurdistan. Yet is is common knowledge that a number of Jewish families still remain there.

A Kurdish reporter quoted a senior source as saying: " the government will not expel any remaining Jews but equally we can't guarantee full security for them. At the same time we will not prevent the state of Israel (from acting) if they want to take them back".

The reporter told how last year on (Israeli) Channel 10, a program showed a Kurdish family from Shtula (sic) returning to Irbil to find their relatives. The TV program upset some Kurdish officials. The reporter tried to interview the Jewish family in question. But they were not ready to comment on the program because they were afraid of being attacked by Jihadist groups in Iraq.  Continued - Kurdistan won't expel Jews, but can't secure them