Looking for a Job Interview in Damascus? BBC Claims It's Possible

A surprising report by BBC correspondent Lisa Doucet claimed that in Syria, after decades of war and persecution, there exists "religious harmony" among Jews, Muslims, and Christians, and that Jews might be interested in returning to live in the old city of Damascus alongside their neighbors. The report, which nearly sounded like a call for job interviews for Jews in Syria, sparked waves of ridicule and criticism worldwide.

Doucet noted in a broadcast from the Syrian capital that "Syria is one of the most diverse countries in the Middle East, with Jews, Muslims, and Christians sharing neighborhoods in various quarters of the old city." She stated that the feeling is that "everyone here wants to believe they have a place in the new chapter of the country."

The reality, however, is entirely different. Israeli and international sources emphasized that currently only a handful of Jews remain in Syria—possibly as few as three—following prolonged persecution over decades. A spokeswoman for the Israeli embassy in the UK, Orly Goldschmidt, cynically responded to the report by writing on social media X: "Good luck finding a Jew for an interview in Damascus."

Daniel Sugarman, communications director of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, added that although a Jewish quarter might be found in Damascus, it's very difficult to point to any tangible Jewish presence there.

Sources from the Jewish Agency noted that there is currently no organized Jewish community in Syria, and most Jews who remain in the country conceal their identity for fear of persecution. Their relatives mostly reside in Israel or other countries, and no requests for assistance have been received since the fall of the Assad family regime.

The BBC's report raised questions regarding Jewish life in Syria, especially around an optimistic portrayal that is detached from reality.