Head of Jews in Libya: ‘Qaddafi asked me to save him during revolution’

Chairman of Jews of Libya UK, Raphael Luzon, said Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi contacted him twice during the revolution of February 2011 asking for his help to save him and his regime in return for restoring Jewish rights in the country and making peace with Israel.

In an article published by Libya Al-Mostakbal news site, Luzon criticised popular reactions to the Libyan-Jewish Reconciliation Conference held in the Greek island of Rhodes.

“I rejected Gaddafi’s request because rights are not a commodity for bargaining and peace is not a deal but a faith,” he said.

Read: Libyan minister met with Israeli officials in ‘secret’ meeting

“I visited Libya at the time of Gaddafi after several attempts since our departure and displacement … I met with Libyan officials. I met with Gaddafi, Moussa Koussa, Suleiman Al-Shahoumi, Abuzed Omar Dorda and others. We, as Libyan Jews, spoke for hours. No Libyans objected like they do today,” he said.

“Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi had a Jewish fiancée from Austria and no one dared to protest against him.”

Luzon explained that most of the parties and institutions in Libya after the fall of Gaddafi contacted him and consulted him regarding the solution to the crisis in the country.

There is a real opportunity to save Libya and we are working to achieve it in consultation and coordination with the international decision makers. We will not allow anyone to waste Libya

he added.