Riots Befall The Aden Community After The Separation Of The Palestinian Territories

Aden community area (Source: Commons Wikimedia)

JAKARTA - The Jewish community is happy that the UN General Assembly has voted for the division of Palestinian territories and the formation of the state of Israel. However, the celebration was disturbed three days later, on December 2, 1947 to be precise. A riot was unstoppable in the Jewish community in Aden, Yemen.

Three days after the UN General Assembly voted for the creation of the state of Israel, there were violent riots by the local Arab population. The Jewish community is their main target. For three days the rioters left a trail of murder and destruction behind them.

Tensions had already arisen as news broke out about Arabs going to rally and demonstrate for three days to protest the UN decision. The youth community led by Yitzhak Shor - head of the Zionist youth movement Hechalutz Hatzair - together with Ovadiah Tuvia - an envoy sent from Eretz Israel - organized the protection of Jewish territory.

Their defense consisted basically of rocks and homemade Molotov cocktails to hurl at rioters who might try to attack their homes. On December 2, 1947, the first day of the riots, they succeeded in defending Jewish territory.

Then, on the second day of the riots, the British sent APL (Aden Protectorate Levies), a British-trained army to protect the Jews. Instead of protecting them, they aimed rifles at the Jewish community and fired them as people ran through the streets, even while taking refuge in their own homes.

Cruel massacre

Horrifying reports have emerged, such as a 13-year-old girl whose father was beaten by snipers in front of her while her family was standing on the roof looking for shelter below. A teenage girl who tries to climb onto the roof to dismantle their tribe, worried that it will catch fire and creep up the whole house, is rescued by her neighbor.

Another report said a young boy was shot and died when he was leaving the house. Quoting the Times Of Israel, Tuesday, December 2, the masses became courageous because of APL's actions and increased terror, bloodlust fueled by hatred.

They went on a rampage with knives and burned houses and schools. Synagogues were burned, Jewish-owned shops were looted and destroyed. Everyone and everything that belongs to the Jewish community is a target.

The rioting also spread to Sheikh Othman, an area in the nearby countryside where people are going for retreats. Some have fled to the area, hoping they will find refuge.

Many Yemeni Jews trapped in Aden while waiting for permission to move to Israel have also been caught up in the violence. Some lost their lives. On the third day, killings, injuries and house burnings continued. It was only moments after noon that British Army commanders stepped in and sent Marines, to quell the rioting.

The results of the three days of terror were dire. A total of 87 Jews, members of the local community and Jewish refugees from Yemen, were massacred and burned to death. The count includes children, women and the elderly. More than 70 others were seriously injured. Two Jewish schools, several synagogues, and many homes have been destroyed. Nearly every shop owned by Jews was looted and some burned.

After more than a thousand years living in Aden, the Jewish community understood that their time was over. After that there was mass emigration and at least 3,000 members moved to Israel. About 1,000 Jews settled in Aden. But in 1967, the British Protectorate ended and so did the Jewish presence in Aden.

The last remaining members either moved to Israel or joined the Jewish community of Aden in London. Although there is not a single Jew left in Aden today, the community, in both Israel and Britain, continues to thrive and maintain its unique traditions.