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How Morocco Saved Its Jews
(The Hill) Menachem Genack - During World War II, the Vichy government of France, which made common cause with the Nazis, asked Morocco to turn over its Jews. King Mohammed V responded, "There are no Jews in Morocco; there are only Moroccan citizens....I do not approve of the new anti-Semitic laws....The Jews are under my protection, and I reject any distinction that should be made amongst my people." Before the founding of Israel, a quarter of a million Jews lived in Morocco. During Vichy rule (1940-44), no Moroccan Jews were deported or killed. The writer is CEO of the OU Kosher certification agency. His parents escaped from Belgium to Casablanca en route to the U.S. during the war.