How did Zionism and Israel affect Jews in Arab Countries?

Answer 1

Jewish Immigration incensed Arabs because they knew that this immigration could eventually result in some of the territory being given over to a Jewish State and they could not abide such an outcome. They began to violently attack Jewish Settlers and petition British governors to limit or ban Jewish immigration. The British finally conceded in 1939 by issuing the White Papers.

Answer 2

Fundamentally, Zionism gave Jews from Arab Countries a safe haven, through the creation of Israel, as Anti-Semitism rose in those countries. Contrary to the view promoted by many in Arab circles, the Arab World in the 1800s and 1900s was a situation of religious discrimination and the rising threat of violence towards Jews. While it can be argued that this hatred intensified because of resentment towards Zionists in Mandatory Palestine, a much better and stronger argument traces the development and entrenchment of Anti-Semitism in Arab Nationalism.

As the 1800s began, European leadership began to colonize much of the Old World, especially Africa and southern Asia. Most of the Islamic World was not under direct colonial authority, but was on a short leash maintained by colonists. As a result, the apartheid Dhimmi System gave way to a new, modern bureaucratic system where Europeans were the dominant class and natives, regardless of their religion were second-class, unless they became part of the bureaucracy. Consequently, many Arab Muslims painted the Jews and Christians who were native to their countries as foreign imperialists and usurpers for gaining an education and becoming part of the bureaucracy.

Arab Nationalism and Anti-Semitism
Nationalism became popular in the Arab World since nationalism was the term used for resisting colonial and imperial authorities. Nationalism, however, is not terribly kind to minorities within any nation-state's area, since the concept of the "nation" was dependent on the idea that all of the people in any particular nation were of the same ethnic stock and heritage. Jews in the Arab World were branded by this system to be "the Other" and were regarded as traitors, spies, thieves, and fifth columns. Most unfortunately, Arab Nationalism made a link between Arab Identity and Muslim Practice. This alienated Jews, Christians, and other minority religions from really participating. These issues started cropping up in the early 20th century, especially after World War I (1914-1919). The anti-Semitic nature of Arab Nationalism was only increased when Nazism became prominent in Europe (1933-1945). Arab Nationalists opposed British and French Imperialism and saw the Nazis (who also opposed British and French interests) as an ally and ideological equivalent. As a result of the increasing Anti-Semitism, many Jews in the Arab World felt uncomfortable and a small wealthy minority of them were bullied, stolen from, and executed. In Iraq in 1941 there was a pogrom called the Farhud which led to around 200 Jewish deaths and the destruction of 900 Jewish properties. There was Tunisian collaboration with the Nazi Holocaust and increasing attacks by Palestinian Arabs on Jewish Settlements in Mandatory Palestine.

Israeli Independence and the Arab World Pogroms
Eventually, Jews worldwide aligned themselves with the Zionists and were able to capture enough sympathy, because of the Holocaust, to get UN Resolution 181 passed, which would permit the Declaration of Independence of a Jewish State (and an Arab State) in Mandatory Palestine. The establishment of Israel led to increasing attacks on Jews in Arab Countries, even when particular targeted individuals, like Shafiq Ades in Iraq, were vocally Anti-Zionist. In Iraq, there were the Humiliations and Executions, where the state ruined Jewish businesses and executed 49 leaders of the Iraqi Jewish Community. In Egypt, the Cairo Jewish Quarter was bombed several times in 1948 and 1949 as if the Jews in Egypt were some how responsible for Israel's military successes. In Libya, there was a pogrom in Tripolitania in 1945 and in Tripoli in 1947. In Syria, there was a pogrom in Aleppo in 1947 where the entire Jewish Quarter was razed to the ground. In 1948, in Morocco, there were pogroms in Oujda and Djerada (although Morocco was considered - and remains - the best Arab country for Jews). In South Yemen, there was a pogrom in Aden in 1947. This phenomenon was common throughout the Arab World, effectively forcing the Jews out.

Integration into Israel
60 years ago, the Jews from the Arab Countries (170,000 Iraqi Jews, 285,000 Moroccan Jews, 140,000 Algerian Jews, 100,000 Egyptian Jews) found salvation in Israel after they were driven out of the Arab countries from 1948-1955. 850,000 Jews (in total) fled the Arab States. 500,000 settled in Israel and the remaining 350,000 have found asylum elsewhere. Currently, the only Arab country with greater than 1,000 Jews is Morocco with roughly 3,400-4,000 Jews. Most Arab countries currently have less than 100 Jews. Israel has completely absorbed these immigrants and integrated them as equal citizens, even those who had previously been Anti-Zionist in their countries of origin. Far from being a problem, Zionism gave the Jews from Arab Countries a place to flee in a rising tide of Anti-Semitism.