Jews first began to settle in Morocco over 2,000 years ago and for centuries they and Muslims have happily co-existed there. Morocco was once home to the largest Jewish community in the Arab world and at its peak had a quarter of a million Jews.

But after Israel was founded in 1948, things changed.

Fear that Morocco's eventual independence from France would lead to the persecution of the country's Jews, plus a desire to bolster Israel's population, led to a large-scale emigration movement.

Moroccan Jews were persuaded to leave their homes and move to Israel. Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, played a key role in convincing thousands of Moroccan Jews that they were in danger and covertly facilitated their departure.

According to Fanny Mergui, a political activist and Moroccan Jew returnee, the community felt "very threatened." She says "Zionist propaganda was very intense."

Some Jews resisted the Mossad initiative and stayed in Morocco, but most left. Today, only about 2,000 Jews remain.
For those…