Mr. Greg Rickman Special envoy of the US State Department

Delivered at the Asifas HaRabbonim called by the Skulen’er Rebbe
in his Bais Medrash

In Dec. ’07, I traveled to Yemen and I found very simply; that the Yemeni Jewish community was terrified.

They were terrified for their lives, were terrified to speak, even to us – US officials. They where so scared of the government and especially of the people of the tribal terrorist groups that surround them.

The most important thing that I learnt from my time in Yemen was; that the Yemen government does not have true control of their country.

Sa’ana, the capital city, is only somewhat under police control.

This is a tribal country where even the government has to ask permission from the local sheiks & leaders of these radical groups; if and when they want to operate in their region. And they don’t necessarily always get the required permission.

Let me bring out the extent of the danger that exists in Yemen:

They wouldn’t allow us to travel to Sa’ada. Only to Re’eda, in the Homron province was it “safe” enough for us to go.

Nonetheless we had to go there, in a military envoy and bulletproof cars. Everyone we met there was armed to the teeth.

That didn’t make us feel safe at all, even with the so called police protection.

I also visited the Jewish community that is now in Sa’ana. While they are in a much safer situation than in the rest of the country, they were by far not in the safest situation.

I also met there with many Yemen officials.

I complained to them about the forced conversions and abductions.

The deputy foreign minister, in the presence of the American ambassador, told me “unlike you Christians, we Muslims like converts”.

Basically he told me he won’t do anything about it. And the foreign minister himself, told us, “my hands are tied, I can not do anything about it”

The country is full of the Al-Houti radical group.

They are backed and affiliated with Al-Quada.

Let’s not forget that this is where the Al-Quada originated from.

The United States interests were numerous times attacked in Yemen. Even in Sa’ana, the US embassy was bombed and attacked.

This September alone the US embassy was bombed four times.

When I returned, I reported back to the State Department.

I said, “These people have to leave that country, it’s not safe for them there! That was then, two years ago. Today it is much less safe.

I would like to finish with 3 statements:

1. The Jewish community is completely exposed and threatened in Yemen. There is very poor security. While the government is somewhat committed to protecting them they can not truly fully protect them!

2. The US government is very committed to help the Jews. However, they themselves are under attack in Yemen. So they can’t help the Jews while they are still in Yemen.

3. Yemen Jews are not safe. I saw it & I heard this from them. The events of the last few years proved that the Jewish community is danger in Yemen. Specifically because they are Jews. I can not tell you what the future holds for them, but I don’t think it will be every good, definitely not better than it has been in the past.

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