Fact Check: Israel disinfected Arab Jews when they first came to Israel

Fact Check: "Israel disinfected Arab Jews when they first came to Israel"

What We Know

The claim that "Israel disinfected Arab Jews when they first came to Israel" lacks credible historical evidence. The term "disinfected" in this context is ambiguous and could imply various forms of treatment or cleansing, which is not substantiated in historical records. The arrival of Jewish immigrants from Arab countries, often referred to as Mizrahi Jews, occurred primarily in the mid-20th century, particularly after the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948. Many of these immigrants faced significant challenges, including discrimination and social integration issues, but there is no documented evidence of a systematic process of "disinfection" as implied by the claim.

According to a brief history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, the migration of Jews to Israel included those fleeing persecution in Arab countries, but it does not mention any form of medical or physical "disinfection." Furthermore, the term "disinfection" is not used in scholarly discussions of the historical treatment of these communities. Instead, the focus has been on the broader context of migration and integration challenges faced by Mizrahi Jews, including cultural and social discrimination.

Analysis

The sources available do not support the claim of "disinfection" in any literal or metaphorical sense. The academic paper titled Al-Nakba: An Analysis of the Historical and Contemporary Israeli Ethnic discusses the broader context of ethnic cleansing and discrimination against Palestinians but does not address the treatment of Mizrahi Jews upon their arrival in Israel. The Wikipedia entry on the Nakba outlines the forced displacement of Palestinians but similarly does not provide evidence for the claim regarding Arab Jews.

The term "disinfected" could be interpreted as a metaphor for the social and cultural assimilation processes that Mizrahi Jews underwent, which included facing prejudice from Ashkenazi Jews (Jews of European descent) in Israel. However, this does not equate to a literal or systematic process of disinfection. The historical narrative surrounding the integration of Mizrahi Jews emphasizes their struggles against marginalization rather than any form of cleansing.

The claim's reliability is further undermined by the lack of credible sources or documentation that would substantiate such a serious allegation. The sources that do exist focus on the broader historical context of the Arab-Israeli conflict and the experiences of different Jewish communities without supporting the specific claim of "disinfection."

Conclusion

Verdict: False
The claim that "Israel disinfected Arab Jews when they first came to Israel" is not supported by credible historical evidence. The term "disinfected" is misleading and does not accurately reflect the experiences of Mizrahi Jews during their immigration to Israel. Instead, historical accounts focus on the challenges and discrimination faced by these communities, without any indication of a systematic process of disinfection.

Sources

1. Al-Nakba: An Analysis of the Historical and Contemporary Israeli Ethnic Cleansing
2. PDF A Brief History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict By Jeremy Pressman
3. Israel – Wikipedia
4. Causes of the 1948 Palestinian expulsion and flight
5. Nakba
6. Israel country profile - BBC News
7. Jews, Muslims, and an "Origin Story" of the Arab-Israeli Conflict
8. Live updates: Israel-Iran attacks, missile strikes on Tel Aviv ... - CNN