The 1953 attacks on Iraqi Jews, particularly the Baghdad bombings from 1950 to 1951, have been a subject of historical debate and controversy. According to recent findings cited by British-Israeli historian Avi Shlaim, there is "incontrovertible evidence" of the Zionist underground's involvement in the bombings, which were part of a strategy to encourage Iraqi Jews to immigrate to Israel¹. This claim is supported by a police report and an interview with a former Zionist operative, Yaakov Karkoukli, who was associated with the Zionist underground in Baghdad during the 1950s¹.
The bombings targeted Jewish communities and businesses, including a coffee shop, a car dealership, and a synagogue¹. Two activists in the Iraqi Zionist underground were found guilty by an Iraqi court for a number of the bombings and were sentenced to death by public hanging². Another operative was sentenced to life imprisonment, and seventeen more received long prison sentences².
The motive behind these actions, as suggested by historians who assign responsibility to the Israeli or Iraqi Zionist underground movement, was to accelerate the immigration of Iraqi Jews to Israel as part of Operation Ezra and Nehemiah². However, the issue remains unresolved, with various theories and allegations made over the years. The Israeli government has consistently denied involvement, even following the admission of the Lavon Affair in 2005².
It's important to note that historical interpretations can vary, and the perspectives of Arab historians and commentators on these events are diverse, reflecting the complex nature of Middle Eastern history and politics.
Source: Conversation with Copilot, 30/06/2024
(1) Zionist role in 1950s attacks on Iraqi Jews 'confirmed' by operative .... https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/iraq-jews-attacks-zionist-role-confirmed-operative-police-report.
(2) 1950–1951 Baghdad bombings - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1950%E2%80%931951_Baghdad_bombings.
(3) This Video Shows This is How Iraq Used to Be in the 1950s. https://www.thevintagenews.com/2015/11/08/this-video-shows-this-is-how-iraq-used-to-be-in-the-1950s/.
