To: The House of Representatives        

 

             Re: Expressing grave concern with regards to H.Res.1123-117th Congress (2021-2022) “to recognize the Nakba and Palestinian Refugee rights” and it’s violation of H.Res.185-110th Congress (2007-2008)(“Hr.185”), which passed the house with bipartisan support and states “Whereas it would be Inappropriate and Unjust for the United States to recognize rights for Palestinian refugees without recognizing equal rights for Jewish refugees from Arab Countries…”

We are writing to express grave concern with respect to legislation that was recently introduced [H.Res.1123-117th Congress (2021-2022)(“HRes 1123”)].

HR 1123 through factual errors and misstatements conveys a message that is grossly inconsistent with long standing House sentiment, expressed most recently in  in, H.Res.185-110th Congress (2007-2008)(“H. Res.185”) which states, “Whereas it would be Inappropriate and Unjust for the United States to recognize rights for Palestinian refugees without recognizing equal rights for Jewish refugees from Arab Countries…”

While our main request is that H. Res. 1123 see no further action, we also urge that ANY discussion of this issue in the House Armed Service Committee or before the full House not occur without strong and clear recognition of the sentiments reflected in H. Res. 185-110.  At a time when we are facing rising instances of antisemitism both in the U.S. and abroad, it is vital that our country and the world understand the clear and unmistakable perspectives from Congress. Specifically, this must ensure that  any discussions on the topic of the Nakba and Palestinian rights recognize the catastrophes, discriminations, violence, theft of assets, and other injustices experienced by the Jewish Refugees of Arab Countries, eventually leading to the ethnic cleansing of Jewish presence from these Arab Countries. It also requires that any discussion of Palestinian rights include a full reflection of the considerable rights enjoyed by Palestinian and other people within the State of Israel. 

For background, in 2008 a Resolution was passed in the House with bi-partisan support, H.Res.185-110th Congress (2007-2008)(“Hr.185”), introduced by Representative Jerrold Nadler. It aims to bring awareness to the human rights violations that took place with the creation of 850,000-1,000,000 Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries and Iran. At the time, the House saw the dangers of having an imbalanced narrative with regard to the refugee problem in the middle east, as stated by the resolution, “Whereas the Palestinian refugee issue has received considerable attention from countries of the world while the issue of Jewish Refugees from the Arab and Muslim worlds has received very little attention.” H.Res.185-110th Congress ¶6 (2007-2008). 

To address the imbalance of attention given to the Palestinian cause as compared to the attention given to the Jewish Refugees of Arab and Muslim worlds the resolution went on to state, “Whereas it would be Inappropriate and Unjust for the United States to recognize rights for Palestinian refugees without recognizing equal rights for Jewish refugees from Arab Countries…” H.Res.185-110th Congress ¶25 (2007-2008). For context, the number of Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries and Iran, is nearly double that of the number of Palestinian Refugees. While the Arab population has grown dramatically within Israel and enjoy equal rights, they have the right to vote, to hold public office, to start a business, and more, however, since 1948, the Jewish population in Arab Countries and Iran has shrunk to near extinction levels to the discriminatory and violent treatment of Jews in those countries.

The purpose and need of the resolution were apparent at the time of its introduction; but one can argue that today this resolution holds even greater importance. 

Rep. Rashida Tlaib on behalf of herself and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Marie Newman, Rep. Jamaal Bowman, and Rep. Cori Bush,  introduced a resolution into the House in May of 2022, H.Res.1123-117th Congress (2021-2022)(“Hr.1123”) for the purposes of “Recognizing the Nakba and Palestinian refugees’ Rights.” The resolution is permeated with half-truths, and creates an illusion that Jews have no history in Israel or the Middle East.  Additionally, it is completely devoid of the mention of Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries, Iran. Nor does it refer to the Jews who were forcibly removed from their homes in East Jerusalem during the Jordanian occupation proceeding the 1948 attack on Israel.  We are frustrated that Rep. Rashida Tlaib, herself a Palestinian Arab, chose not to author a resolution that fairly reflects  the entire history of the Middle East and all its peoples. 

In conclusion, Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s resolution, H.Res. 1123, demanding recognition of the Nakba and Palestinian Refugee rights, is devoid of any mention to the Jewish Refugees of the Arab Countries and Iran, or the catastrophes and uprisings they experienced that eventually led to the ethnic cleansing of Jews from Arab Countries. Allowing this resolution to advance or receive further attention in the House, particularly since it does not accurately reflect historical or current circumstances, would – in the words of H.Res 185 – be “unjust and inappropriate” to the Jewish community at large and the Refugees of Arab Countries and Iran. 

We at Uprooted would be delighted to provide experts to educate any House member on the catastrophes and ethnic cleansing that the Jews faced in Arab Countries and Iran, to ensure that they are all represented truthfully and that none are left out.

 

 

Thank You

Abraham Hamra, Esq.  President of Uprooted Jewish Refugees.

Rabbi Elie Abadie, Honorary Chairman Of The Board and Rabbinical Leader 

Abraham Mamiye- Board Member and Secretary 

Eli  Sardar- Board Member and Vice President

Jack Mann – Board Member and Treasurer 

Joe M. Tawil – Board Member and Vice President 

Michael Mishaan – Vice President