International

Is Spain Backtracking on Its Promise of Citizenship for Sephardic Descendants?

While one form or another of “Holy Inquisition” ravaged Europe and the Iberian Peninsula for at least two centuries before and after the discovery of the New World, the year 1492 is often considered significant in the Spanish Inquisition as in that year – and in 1502 for Muslims – Catholic King Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain issued an ultimatum, El Decreto de la Alhambra (the Alhambra Decree) ordering Jews to convert to Catholicism, or else be expulsed from Castile. [Dorian de Wind]

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Dorian de Wind, International, Jewish History

Former Israel ‘Hawk’ Tells of His Transformation to a ‘Dove’

It’s a well-worn political observation that “it took a Nixon to go to China,” meaning because President Richard M. Nixon was identified as a staunch conservative, he was trusted to go to mainland China and open a dialogue with that nation’s communist rulers, a dialogue that led to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two adversary countries. [Donald H. Harrison]

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Books, Poetry & Short Stories, Donald H. Harrison, Jewish History, Middle East

Biden condemns anti-Semitism after swastika found at State Department

Published by Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) – U.S. President Joe Biden spoke out against anti-Semitism after officials said that a swastika had been found carved into the wall of a U.S. State Department elevator. “Let me be clear: Anti-Semitism has no place in the State Department, in my administration, or anywhere in the world. It’s up

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USA

Jared Kushner to leave politics, launch investment firm – sources

Published by Reuters By Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Jared Kushner, a top adviser to former President Donald Trump, plans to launch an investment firm in coming months, a move that will take him away from politics for the foreseeable future, sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday. Kushner, the former chief executive of

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USA

EU hijab ruling marks a shameful new low for civil liberties

Published by Al-Araby The recent ruling by the EU’s highest court allowing businesses to ban the hijab from being worn by employees is yet another episode in Europe’s long-running saga of enshrining Islamophobic practices in law. Two cases of Muslim women in Germany who were reprimanded for wearing the hijab were brought to the attention

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International

Joe Lieberman: Lessons Learned from Menachem Begin’s Life

Winston Churchill once wrote, “The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you are likely to go.” I thought of those words recently after watching Upheaval, a new documentary film produced by the Hidden Light Institute in Denver about the life of Menachem Begin, Israel’s sixth Prime Minister. Begin’s public life ended almost three decades ago, but this film offers insights and lessons in leadership, civility, anti-Semitism and Israel that are surprisingly relevant today. [Joseph Lieberman]

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Jewish History, Middle East, USA

Israel minister to discuss Pegasus scandal in France visit

Published by The Bangkok Post JERUSALEM: Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz will meet his French counterpart in Paris this week for talks that will include an “update” on the Pegasus spyware scandal, his office said Tuesday. A ministry statement said Gantz will leave Wednesday for talks with French Defence Minister Florence Parly on topics including

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Middle East