(IsraelNN.com) According to the Yemen Observer, every home in the Jewish community of Sa'ada received a letter in January from a Shi'ite fundamentalist group known as Believers Youth threatening the Jews with death if they did not leave their homes within 10 days.

The Believers Youth (Shabab Al-Moumineen) is part of an anti-government, Shi'ite insurgency that was led by Hussein Al-Houthi until his death in 2004. Since that time, Al-Houthi-inspired groups, some led by Al-Houthi relatives, have periodically carried out anti-government actions. The group, whose ranks are filled with members of the Zaidi Shi'ite minority, is critical of what it sees as the pro-Israel and pro-US nature of the central Yemenite government's policies. Dozens of rebels and soldiers, as well as innocent bystanders have were killed in clashes with government forces in February.

After receiving the death threats, the Jews of Sa'ada moved into a local hotel, "under the patronage and protection of a local sheikh," according to the Yemen Observer. Jewish leaders of the community said that they approached local
We and our children could not even sleep when we were in Sa'ada, hearing the explosions everywhere, especially after we had been threatened.
leaders for help based on tribal traditions mandating their protection from such an outside threat. However, increasingly violent clashes between Al-Houthi rebels and government forces last month in and around northern Yemen's Sa'ada, led the Jews to seek refuge outside the region.

Last week, Yemenite officials instructed that the small Jewish community be transferred out of Sa'ada and brought to Tourist City, a hotel and entertainment complex in Yemen's capital, Sana'a. There, they are receiving shelter, food and medical attention.

The Yemen Observer quoted Yahya David, identified as the son of Sa'ada's rabbi: “We feel safer here [in Sana'a]; we and our children could not even sleep when we were in Sa’ada, hearing the explosions everywhere, especially after we had been threatened." A member of the Sa’ada Jewish community explained to the Yemen Observer that all 45 of his neighbors, seven families in all, are now in Tourist City.

Speaking with reporters, several of the Jewish refugees from the Al-Houthi-led violence expressed their thanks and voiced loyalty to Yemen and to its president, Ali Abdullah Salih. They also said that they are anxious to return to their homes in Sa'ada as soon as possible.

The Jewish population of Yemen numbers approximately 200 people, according to the latest estimates. In 1948, there were approximately 63,000 Jews in Yemen, the vast majority of whom left or were forced to flee Muslim violence against them shortly after the State of Israel was established. Most of Yemen's Jews were brought to Israel during Operation Magic Carpet in 1949-1950.