Operation Ezra and Nehemiah was the exodus of over 120,000 Jews from Iraq to Israel between 1950 and 1951. The Iraqi government had been persecuting Jews and made emigration to Israel illegal, but then passed a bill in 1950 allowing Jews to leave. The Iraqi prime minister organized an airlift to encourage Jews to depart as he wanted to remove Jews from Iraq. Between May 1951 and early 1952, over 120,000 Iraqi Jews were airlifted to Israel, leaving only around 6,000 Jews remaining in Iraq.

1. Operation Ezra and Nehemiah (Ali
Baba)  The exodus of over 120,000 Jews from Iraq to Israel (c. 1950, 1951)
 The name of the operation is derived from the biblical story about Ezra and Nehemiah

2. Timeline
Early 1940s • Anti-Semitic propaganda, esp. anti-Zionist propaganda incites feelings of anger
against the Jews of Iraq
1947 • The Iraqi government makes emigration to Mandatory Palestine (Israel) illegal
1948 • The Jewish State, Israel is established. In response, the Iraqi government deems Zionism a
capital offense.
1949 • Jewish persecution reaches an all time high (many Jews are falsely accused of Zionist ties,
and membership)
1950 • The Iraqi government passes a special bill allowing Iraqi Jews to emigrate. (2) In September
of that year, Nuri Al-Said becomes prime minister of Iraq … his agenda is blatant: to get as many
Jews out of Iraq as possible.
1951 • The Iraqi government (under Nuri Al-Said) organizes an airlift operation. Nuri Al-Said
encourages Iraqi Jews to leave, or he will “bring them to the borders himself.” (2) 50,000 Iraqi Jews
sign up within the first month, and 90,000 within the next two. The Iraqi Zionist movement calls
for Jews to sign-up … and the numbers continue to grow. (3) Between May 1951 and early 1952,
over 120,000 Iraqi Jews are airlifted to Israel. Only 6,000 Jews remained in Iraq …

3. The Importance of Operation Ezra and
Nehemiah
 The biggest modern exodus
 What’re the implications for Israel?
 What’re Implications for Iraq’s remaining Jews?

4. How is Operation Ezra and Nehemiah
relevant?
 It is a product of nationalism
 Provides insight on currents issues / relationships