Libyan Jews vs. Palestinians

There was an interesting article in Foreign Policy today entitled Next Year in Tripoli, looking at the treatment of the Jews there.

The history of Libya's Jews stretches back to the third century B.C., through the 1492 Jewish expulsion from Spain, and up to the 20th century. ... As recently as 1931, Libya's Jewish community of about 24,500 people represented 4 percent of the country's population.

... But the wars of the 20th century decimated our community. The trouble began in 1938, when a Nazi-inspired racial law against Jews led to heightened persecution, and hundreds of Libyan Jews were killed in riots during that period. By 1949, many Jews had been forced to leave after Libyans rioted again in reaction to the establishment of Israel. By 1969, with Qaddafi in power, only about 100 Jews remained. At that time, Qaddafi confiscated the assets and possessions of all Libyan Jews, including those who had left in 1967 and earlier, and declared that Jews could not return or renew their passports.

... While not one Jew lives in Libya today, the original diaspora population of 38,000 has grown to about 200,000 people who reside largely in Israel and Italy.

Compare to Palestine... which sounds worse? Which do you hear more about?