178 · Rachel Simon
they lived rather than attain a prestigious victory, because this might not
have solved the problem and might have even resulted in arousing anger
and desire for revenge.^17
In order to improve their security far from the reach of the central
government, the Jews of the Tripolitanian hinterland developed a wide
network of relations and pacts with tribal chiefs who protected the Jews
who lived among them in return to a symbolic state of slavery. This sys-
tem remained in force even following the formal abolition of slavery in
the Ottoman Empire in the nineteenth century.^18
The Italian authorities took care of the security of the population in
the areas under their control. This excluded areas of variable size in
Libya that were under Muslim rebel control during the first two decades
of Italian rule. Rebel-controlled areas were only sparsely inhabited by
Jews. The Jews usually felt themselves safe in Libya, except those living
in rebellious regions or in war zones during World War II.^19 During the
1920s Jews in Amrus and Zawiyah on the Tripolitanian coast used to keep
frightening, violent dogs in order to protect themselves from Muslim at-
tacks. In addition, since the police during the Italian period continued to
be manned mainly by local Muslims, it did not always act vigorously to
suppress quarrels in which Jews were harmed by Muslims or Italian Fas-
cist civilians and soldiers. But these events were rare. In general, the se-
curity of the Jews was good during the Italian period. Even during World
War II there were not many attacks on Jews and their property, and when
this happened—except for harm resulting from the racial legislation—it
was caused mainly by Italians and Germans. The Muslims did not take
advantage of the serious deterioration of the status of the Jews result-
ing from the racial legislation in order to harm them. There were even
instances when Muslims tried to rescue Jewish acquaintances from work
and concentration camps and ease the life of the inmates. Muslims also
helped Jews who escaped from coastal towns, which were bombarded by
British airplanes.^20
Widespread violent attacks by Muslims against Jews took place in
Libya only since the BMA period. These outbreaks occurred mainly in
and around Tripoli, though some happened also in Benghazi. They were
characterized by a combination of socioeconomic pressures and a grow-
ing nationalist zeal. Arab political exiles, who returned to Tripolitania
following the British occupation, started forming political organizations
with the help of the Red Fezes while taking advantage of the severe