Can Libyan Jews return?

A Jewish man forced into exile from Libya since 1967, when he was 12 has returned to Tripoli. He still considers Libya his home and intends to reestablish a synagogue in the country. With the removal of gaddafi and the impending advent of a democratic state, he hopes that he and the few Libyan Jews of yesteryear can now return and live in peace and freedom. Certainly there should be no reason why not. After all, it was once their home. And Islam does not prohibit Jews from living in our lands.

However, it ought to be remembered that the Libyan Jewish population left the country not because of an evil regime. They left prior gaddafi taking over. It was the 1967 Arab war with Israel and the immense hatred of the Arab individuals for the state of Israel that brought this about. And nothing has changed. Israel still exists and still oppresses our Palestinian brethren. And we still hate them and they are still our enemies. And it is still a Jewish state. Therefore, though your average Jew may protest vociferously to the contrary, Jewish people are inextricably linked with the state of Israel. And when the question is brought up "should we, the Libyans, allow Jews back in the country?" The question of Israel inevitably arises and needs to be answered.



Muslims and Arabs the world over may disagree with the solution to the "Israel" problem. But we all agree on one point. Israel is our enemy and we do not recognise it as a legitimate nation, but a usurper and occupier. How could we believe anything else, as it is nothing but a terrorist state. And I don't mean this in the same way as the rhetoric espoused by Western governments when describing nations such as Iran. I mean this in the literal sense, a terrorist state, founded on terrorism and continuing its policy of terrorism. A state that, until Benyamin Netinyahu's premiership, had never voted for a leader that hasn't been involved directly in terrorist acts against Britain in founding the country. And a criminal state that has continued to violate UN resolution after the other with no fear of consequence. We, as Libyans (see my People's Manifesto) and Muslims do not recognise Israel!

Saying all of that, should the destiny of the Libyan Jews be determined by the actions of a rogue nation that may have no connection with their views and opinions? Is that fair? Certainly on twitter there has been a debate raging amongst Libyans and a consensus seems to be unlikely. It varies from yes, they should all be let in to yes on condition of......to no, not at all.

All views are understandable and off all the issues that are of concern to the new Libya, this is the one that will create the most debate - even though it's importance to the new Libya should not be overstated. Citizenship of Libya should not be based on religion or race, that much is clear. However, we have to define a clear understanding of what Libya stands for and what a Libyan is. And I would argue strongly and with as much energy as I can muster that a person can not be a Libyan and love Israel at the same time. In fact, a Libyan is someone that considers Israel an enemy. And this should be written into our constitution until such time as a Palestinian state is established. And that anyone wishing to be a citizen of Libya must pledge allegiance to the country and it's constitution - irrespective of their race. This isn't asking too much. In 1996, when I became a British national I was asked to pledge allegiance to Britain and the Queen (for all intents and purposes, I was pledging allegiance to the unwritten constitution of the UK). Every citizen must be asked the same to be a Libyan. And though we cannot ask them too denounce Israel, as we cannot see inside their hearts and minds, we must insist that their actions are not contradictory of the constitution and importantly, values of the Libyan people. I would love to insist, as believer in Tawheed that every Libyan agrees that Allah is NOT everywhere and to affirm Allah's hands without interpretation and that the how is known only to Him. I'd love it if we could control the thoughts and beliefs of our people. But we can't and we shouldn't. Only their actions!

Two points arise from this. The first is that the exiled Jew will ask why should they "become a citizen" of Libya when they are in fact Libyans who were forced out of their country. And this is extremely valid. But we must be pragmatic about this. Jews were exiled not by force but they left for fear of retribution for being Jews and though I would love to hold Libya up as the standard bearer for tolerance, the reality is no country is. Ask the parents of Stephen Lawrence, or the Muslimah students in France if they feel their respective countries are tolerant. And so we have to ensure that we can at least hold up to our people proof that these returning Libyan Jews stand by us in our fight (as metaphorical as that may be) against the Jewish Israeli enemy.

The second point that arises is probably a lot more difficult to address. After the 1967 war, 38,000 Jews left Tripoli. By all accounts, the Jewish people of Tripoli were quite clichéd. Business people, who owned property and businesses. They were the main gold traders. So what will they be expecting when they returned? Certainly, the Jewish man I mentioned at the beginning of this is expecting the return of that property and businesses. I don't know the actual figures but surely that could amount to at least 20,000 individual businesses and the equivalent in property. Businesses and property that are now relied upon by Libyans that will not even remember the 1967 war or the persecution of the Jewish minority. Libyans who have known nothing else and who will be left jobless and destitute if these are taken away. This is not justice and should not be allowed to happen. And nor should there be any suggestion that the Jews returning should be compensated. Libyans have suffered for a long time and for the foreseeable future, our money needs to be our money. I know the world is looking at Libyan with scrutiny - waiting to see if Libya will be a paragon of virtue and tolerance, a utopia for the masses or will it be a middle aged backward nation. The honest answer is neither and nor do we want to be. We've suffered for too long and there is a time to be selfish. This is that time.

But we Libyans have to take example from our predecessors, who taught us what was we good. We have to learn from the example of Umar Ibn al-Khattab when he entered Jerusalem and refused to pray in a Church or Synagogue to ensure the rights of the other faiths are maintained. Those who live in our land must be protected. They must be free from fear. They must be allowed to observe their religious rites. They must be free to worship in our wholly Muslim land. That is what our prophet taught us.