Last Jew in Afghanistan en route to US: report

The last Jew in Afghanistan is en route to the United States after allegedly abandoning plans to remain the Taliban-controlled country, according to an orthodox Jewish magazine. 
 
The latest update on the plight of Zablon Simintov came in a tweet by Ami Magazine on Tuesday.
 
The international publication claimed that its foreign affairs reporter Shloime Zionce had travelled to "save" Simintov, despite the latter's previous statements that he would not leave Afghanistan.
 
Ami Magazine indicated that alleged rescue mission would feature in a report in its latest issue, adding "credit goes to all who actively sought his rescue".

No details are available on how Simintov left Afghanistan or why he changed his mind. Domestic flights resumed in Kabul airport on Sunday as Turkish and Qatari technical teams work to repair the damaged transport hub.

BREAKING: We are pleased to report that Zevulun, the Last Jew In Afghanistan, who our international reporter Shloime⁩ @chusidel flew to Kabul to save from the #Taliban as reported in this week’s issue of ⁦@Ami_Magazine⁩, is now safe and in route to the United States. pic.twitter.com/nHwpJKNSeg

— Ami Magazine (@Ami_Magazine) September 6, 2021

Amid the international evacuation mission triggered by the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, Simintov reportedly insisted on securing a cash payment from those helping to evacuate him in order to repay personal debts – a demand that was rejected by those organising his evacuation.
 
But the 61-year-old said that his decision to stay was to maintain the synagogue in Kabul of which he is the sole caretaker.
 
Aside from his stated duty, his decision to remain is believed to be linked to his refusal to grant his wife a Jewish religious divorce, known as a "get". The wife and children of Simintov, an ethnic Tajik from eastern Afghanistan, have lived in Israel since 1998.

Following the group's takeover, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told an Israeli broadcaster that Simintov would be unharmed, along with Afghanistan other religious minorities.