Uncorroborated Arabic-language media reports have circulated in recent days that Iran-backed Houthi rebels have targeted Yemen’s tiny Jewish community as part of an “ethnic cleansing” campaign amid the ongoing civil war in the country. The Israeli Foreign Ministry, though, told The Jerusalem Post that the reports seemed to be false.
However, on Wednesday, the Embassy of Yemen in the US — representing the Saudi Arabia-backed government led by President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi that is based in Aden — published a Twitter thread amplifying the reports.
Alarmed by reports of #Houthis arresting & assaulting #Jewish residents, forcing them to sell their homes, expropriating their properties and transferring ownership to Houthi leaders. Shocking if #YemeniteJews are unjustly being pressured to leave #Yemen. 1/5
— Yemen Embassy D.C. (@YemenEmbassy_DC) July 15, 2020
“Alarmed by reports of #Houthis arresting & assaulting #Jewish residents, forcing them to sell their homes, expropriating their properties and transferring ownership to Houthi leaders,” the embassy said. “Shocking if #YemeniteJews are unjustly being pressured to leave #Yemen.”
“We know #Houthis espouse virulent #antiSemitism & impose systematic #discrimination, #humanrights violations, and mistreatment,” it continued. Media now reporting Houthis cutting off #water & #electricity to Jewish homes and preventing #Jews from purchasing #food.”
“It is repugnant enough that the #Houthis have exacted vicious crimes against their fellow Yemeni #Muslim citizens,” the embassy stated. “To hear that #Houthis also victimizing #YemeniteJews is similarly reprehensible.”
“#Nazism was a horrible stain on #Europe,” the embassy recalled. “It cannot have another hateful strain now in #Arabia. The #Houthis must be compelled to make #peace in #Yemen and to end their intolerance #antisemitic rhetoric & conduct.”
“As an immediate step, we demand the #Houthis immediately clarify the situation and declare they will respect the rights of minorities in all territories under their control. #Jews and all minorities have a place in #Yemen, and for a better future we hope to build,” the Twitter thread concluded.
The anti-Jewish push was said to be taking place in the Kharif District of the ‘Amran Governorate, northwest of Sana’a, in the swathe of Yemen controlled by the Houthis.