Yemen rabbi complains about antisemitism in school textbooks

A Yemen website reports that the leader of Yemen's Jewish community, Yahya Youssef, has urged that the nation halts its incitement against Jews published in the media and in school curricula.

Last week he said that the Jews of Yemen do not want a separate school system, but are happy to send their children to public schools where they learn Arabic and Islam; they learn English and Hebrew afterwards, it seems. Even so, he said that the Jewish children are harassed in school. Youssef is demanding equality. His own children are part of the Children's Parliament.

Youssef also complained about the Houthis who drove the Jewish community out of the al-Salem area of Saada with little notice; they claimed that the Jews drank alcohol, a charge that Youssef denies - he says that Yemenite Jews don't even drink the wine that Judaism allows.

He says that a priceless library was left behind in Sadaa and he wants to ensure its safety.