Hardly a day has passed in recent weeks without reports of two or three violent attacks on Jews in Tunis. The assailants use a variety of weapons, but most are some type of blackjack.
Official statistics show that of every 30 reported crimes of violence, 26 are directed against Jews. While the French newspapers here have protested these attacks, the Arab papers have remained silent. At least one, the daily “Azzohra,” continues a violent anti-Jewish, anti-Zionist line, using the recent “spy” trial of Jews in Cairo as a central point of its propaganda.
The growing number of attacks on Jews, coupled with the uncertain political situation, has been reflected in the climbing emigration statistics. Last July only 190 Jews left for Israel, in August the number was 280, by September it was 469, by October it was 674, by November it was 788 and during December it dropped again to 380. The drop was caused by the rough seas encountered in the Mediterranean during the winter months. By April Israel-bound immigration is expected to soar again. There are some 8,000 Jews registered for emigration with the Jewish Agency office here.
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