Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-12-09
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of us in Cairo are Zionists," ne
said. I'VE have always been for
Egypt and against Israel. So
except for the Zionists and Brit
ish French Jews, we all feel per-
fectly safe"
An Egyptian Jew who once
worked in Cairo bank had
different experience, however
MY father, who is not an Egyp-
tan citizen has been arrested
but charged with nothing" he
said. II was discharged from my
job and was told a Moslem would |
take my place. l can't find an
other job. / don't think this
country is good for Jews any
more so I'm trying to find some
other country that will take my
family" He said his family had
a long record Of anti-Zionist
activity.
One Jewish Egyptian business
man said that he was convinced
the current campaign was part
Of a general government drive
to Egyptianize and Moslemize
the country. He believed the
Nasser regime wanted to pres
sure all foreigners. Christians
and Jews, out of responsible Jobs
and II possible out Of Egypt.
The government itself says 1T
Is merely protecting Egypt from
subversive activities Of British
and French citizens and a mi
nority of Jews who have actively
helped Israel. Virtually all Brit
ish and French citizens have
been ordered out and their prop
erty put into government Gus
tody. Official spokesman say only
that three out of every thousand
Jews have been expelled.
Treatment Of Jews Varies
As far as can be determined
from talking to persons involved,
the treatment of Jews varies
from high to low levels Of gov
eminent and from individual toI
individual.
A French Jew who had lived
in Egypt all his life told me at the
Cairo Airport that his brother.
an engineer, had been jailed,
beaten and confined with three
others in a room barely large
enough to contain q cot. On the
other hand, French citizens Of
Jewish faith working for Trans
world Airlines we're confined in
comfort and then deported al
most gently-with fulsome apol-
ogies from a customs official
when he searched their baggage.
One minor police official told
q stateless Jew verbally to leave
the country in 10 days. A higher
official verbally reversed the same
order. Then. a few days later,
the deportation order was con-
firmed by an even higher official
still verbally. Some Jews have
been ordered out, but have said
at the deadline time they had
found no place to go. Of1cials
have told them Just to forget the
whole thing.
Social and athletic clubs have
expelled all Jewish members, but
many have invited them back
again.
TFeatmen Summed Up
1t seems possible to sum up
the treatment Of Jews in this
way: First, there Is widespread
pressure against Jews Of all ma
tionalities. This pressure Is d.
rected or condoned by the gov
eminent. Second, most Jews fear
the present pressures viii con-
tinue and that prudence dictates
that all Jews-even Egyptian
citizens-think seriously about
leaving country. Third. the gov
ernment's ultimate intentions
are not really known. Fourth, 1t
would take a strong positive
statement from President Nasser
himself to convince Jews and
neutral observers here that anti
judaism will not become the
long-range official government
policy.
The effects Of the current
troubles are felt in different ways
by two different groups. Those
Jews who have been jailed or
forced out almost pennyleSs on
10 days notice have suffered
great personal loss and discom-
fort which only the most heart
less could say Is not tragedy.
And persons not directly harmed
have lost some of the confidence
they have had in the Nasser
government.
Col. Nasser. though a dictator.
has been a benevolent one and
has won the backing of most
Egyptians-even many who we're
skeptical when the revolutionary
junta kicked out King Farouk
But now the government is
showing that 1t not only has the
power to deprive citizens of civil
liberties. but. at least in the case
of Jews. is ready to exercise it.
1t is one thing to know the
dog has teeth. 1t is another thing
to see them in use on some
neighbours leg.
A Moslem businessman said to
me. Il don't like Jews but ex-