10 Jewish Yemenite children who were brought to Argentina in 2011, arrive in Israel Wednesday, to reunite with their families just as their parents land from Yemen in covert operation.
By Omri Efraim
17 Yemenite Jews landed in Israel Wednesday, in a Jewish Agency operation that brought about the bonding of two families, both of which were divided in August 2011 when several of their members were brought to Argentina by Satmar Hasidim and the rest remained in Yemen.
New Yemenite arrivals – Photo: Moshik Br
The families are to reside in one of the agency’s centers in Israel’s south until they move to permanent housing.
Since 2008, anti-Semitic acts became more prevalent, culminating in the murder of Moshe Yaish-Nahari, and prompting over 150 Jews to immigrate to Israel. According to estimates by the Jewish Agency, Yemen currently harbors fewer than 90 Jews, half of whom reside in a gated community in Sanaa.
In August 2011, Satmar Hasidim told a group of 30 Jewish Yemenites to travel to London, where, the hasidim said, they would be granted refugee status. Only after leaving Yemen, the group members realized their entrance to the UK would not be permitted and were taken to Argentina by the Satmars.
Reunion – Photo: Moshik Brin
Among the Jews who were brought to Argentina were the six children of Yachya Karni and the four children of Haim Karni. The ten children finally reunited with their parents Wednesday in Israel, as the children came in from Argentina and the parents from Yemen.
Over the past years, Yemenite Jews were subject to threats by radical Islamists, among whom al-Qaeda affiliated extremists.
View original Ynet publication at: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4418000,00.html
Israeli New Shekel Exchange Rate