First-Ever Canadian Parliamentary Hearings on Jewish Refugees from Arab Countries

On May 2nd and 7th, 2013, former Jewish refugees and expert witnesses appeared before the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Development Committee. The Committee sought historical and legal testimony on the uprooting of centuries-old Jewish communities in North Africa , the Middle East and the Gulf region.

When the issue of 'refugees' is raised within the context of the Middle East, people invariably refer only to 'Palestinian refugees'. Neither the mass violations of human rights, nor the displacement of Jews from Arab countries, have ever been adequately addressed by the international community. The Canadian Institute for Jewish Advocacy (CIJA) had been working with Canadian Government officials in convening the Hearings and Justice for Jews from Arab Countries (JJAC) was asked to provide expert witnesses.

Testifying before the Committee were four officers of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, including Sylvain Abitbol, Co-President; David Matas, Honorary Legal Counsel; Regina Waldman, Vice President; and Stanley A. Urman, Executive Vice President.

Sylvain Abitbol, vice-president of Justice for Jews from Arab Countries, was called as a witness

In his testimony before the Committee, Sylvain Abitbol, JJAC Co-President declared: "We must underscore, at every opportunity, that for over 2,500 years, Jews in substantial numbers resided in the Middle East and North Africa. We, Sephardi-Mizrahi Jews, are the indigenous people of the Middle East and we must not allow the rich vibrant heritage and patrimony of Jews in the region to be expunged from the history books".

Since the Hearings, the Committee has been deliberating on the specific language of the recommendations and Report that it will be submitting imminently to the Parliament of Canada.