A secret operation to take imperiled Jews out of Yemen could be in jeopardy after news of the effort was made public.

Since a Yemenite Jew was murdered in December by a Muslim in the northern city of Raida, Jewish organizations have stepped up their efforts to take the approximately 280 remaining Jews in Yemen out of the country, where anti-Jewish hostility appears to be on the rise following the launch of Israel's military operation in Gaza three months ago. Yemen's president has taken several steps to protect the Jews in his country.

About three weeks ago, the Jewish Agency for Israel announced that it had brought 10 Jews to Israel. Meanwhile, the United Jewish Communities has been working behind the scenes to arrange for the immigration of some 113 members of the Yemenite community to the United States. The operation was a joint effort that included the Satmar community of Rockland County, N.Y.-the community has ties to Yemenite Jewry and is determined that they preserve their traditional religious practices-as well as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, FEGS, UJA-Federation of New York and the U.S. State Department.