Exiled Libyan Jew says synagogue efforts blocked

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/9876802

Associated Press= TRIPOLI, Libya (AP) — A Libyan Jewish man who returned from exile was blocked from entering Tripoli's main synagogue Monday, dashing his hopes of restoring the house of worship after decades of decay.

David Gerbi, who has spent most of his life in Italy, said he went to clean garbage from the synagogue on Monday, a day after he broke through the entrance with a sledgehammer to great fanfare. Men at the scene told him, however, that they had warnings he could be a target of violence, and that he should stop his efforts.

Gerbi, who fled with his family to Italy in 1967, said he was surprised because he had permission from the local sheik. Gerbi's colleague Richard Peters said several men armed with assault rifles later appeared to guard the building, although none was visible later Monday.

Breaking down in tears, Gerbi said Libya needs to decide whether it will be a racist country or a democratic one.

[FarCenter]

1. a racist country or a democratic one?

A country can be both.

[Distant Observer]

2. Well, all the evidence of racism and anti-jewish sentiment was there from the beginning

Remember that one of the main "fatwas" against Gaddafi was for being a "secret Jew"

[Donald Ian Rankin]

3. I worry that he has it precisely backwards.

I think the question may be "Is Libya going to be a democratic and hence racist country, or are external influences going to suppress the racism?". If so neither option looks good.

That said, I'm a long, long way from an expert on Libya - it may well be that more of the people are more liberal than I fear.

[Mosby]

4. wtf are you trying to say here?

[Donald Ian Rankin]

6. That there may well be widespread antisemitism in Libya.

In Egypt we've seen an upsurge in anti-Israeli feeling resulting from the overthrow in a dictator who had made peace with Israel rather against the will of the majority.

That doesn't come close to *proving* that the overthrow of Gaddafi will be followed by an upsurge in anti-Jewish (or anti-black, from what I've read about what's happening in Libya) attitudes, but it's circumstantial evidence that that may be something to worry about.

[Distant Observer]

7. Christian are Jewish religious practice were protected under Gaddafi

[ProgressiveProfessor]

5. Muslim nations are not known for their religeous tolerance

Why is the slightest surprise?