While the Middle East and North Africa were largely safer for Jews than Europe throughout history, the region has certainly never been free of antisemitic sentiments. Leading up to and after the declaration of the State of Israel, Jews in North Africa and the Middle East were persecuted and exiled from their homes. Zarif made the comments while discussing the Iranian position on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and the "Deal of the Century" Middle East peace plan. Iran's partnership with Hezbollah, Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza, Iraq and other locations in the Middle East is commonly referred to as the "Axis of Resistance." Iran's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohammad Javad Zarif denied that the Middle East was affected by antisemitism, calling claims of antisemitism in the region Zionist "propaganda," in an interview posted on Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's website.

Source: The North Africa Journal February 21, 2020 09:33 UTC