44 F
New York
Friday, March 29, 2024

Spain’s Juan Carlos I Meets with American Jewish Leaders Declares historic law granting Sephardic Jews dual citizenship

Related Articles

-Advertisement-

Must read

Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations along with 60 American Jewish leaders met with King Juan Carlos I of Spain on their first official state visit. High level discussions took place with Spanish officials on Israel, Iran and the escalation of European anti-Semitism
Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations along with 60 American Jewish leaders met with King Juan Carlos I of Spain on their first official state visit. High level discussions took place with Spanish officials on Israel, Iran and the escalation of European anti-Semitism
On Wednesday, February 12, over 60 leaders from the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations met with Spain’s King Juan Carlos I in the umbrella organization’s first official visit there. The visit comes on the heels of last Friday’s announcement made by Spain that they would allow citizenship for descendants of expelled Spanish Jews during the time of the infamous Inquisition.

During the meeting, which took place at Zarzuela Palace, the King extolled the contributions of Spain’s Jewish community to Spain before it was expelled in 1492 by King Ferdinand and Queen Isabela, as part of the Spanish Inquisition’s efforts to convert or expel Jews, according to a report on the Israel National News web site.

“Our history has been profoundly enriched with Spanish Jews’ contributions to the arts and sciences, to commerce and philosophy. We are extremely proud of this legacy,” remarked the Spanish monarch.

The Conference of Presidents delegation praised the new Spanish legislation, granting citizenship for descendants of the community, as an “important recognition of the tragic events 500 years ago and the importance of educating this and future generations about it.” The added their hopes that Spain will lead efforts against anti-Semitism and the threats of European boycotts on Israel.

King Juan Carlos I said to the visiting Jewish leaders “Spain’s doors are open to you now and always.”

The delegation also met with Justice Minister Alberto Ruiz Gallardon in Madrid, who said “we had to tell ourselves and the world that what happened was not only a mistake, but also that historical mistakes can be repaired.”

The new bill allows Jews to apply for Spanish citizenship while retaining their existing citizenship. It will soon be finalized in a vote in Spain’s Congress of Deputies.

“I can assure you that the vast majority of Spaniards, no matter what their political stripes, whether they are in the government or in the opposition, agree with this assertion that we made a historic mistake five centuries ago and now we have the opportunity to repair it,” Gallardon said. “So for this reason I am convinced that the draft law will receive the backing of the vast majority of parliament.”

Genuine repentance or a ruse?

Writing in a JTA editorial piece, Cnaan Liphshiz takes a cynical tone of the trip.  “Spain is running for election to the U.N. Security Council this year and if it’s elected — which seems like a real possibility — fresh contacts in Madrid could come in handy.”

Spain, however, has made some showing of repentance for its atrocious history of anti-Semitism. Last December, the Spanish Duke of Medina Sidonia presented a document of apology to the Jewish community of Gibraltar for the atrocities committed during the 1474-1476 expulsion of the Jewish community.

Despite the signs of rapprochement, Rabbi Shlomo Aviner and other senior rabbis forbid Jews from taking Spanish citizenship in the new gesture, saying the move may be a political ruse to “make up for” the Inquisition and expulsion of Jews, which should not be forgiven.

“Spain needs support at the moment – it is in a very difficult financial situation,” noted Rabbi Aviner last Monday. “Suddenly they are courting us and giving us [dual] citizenship. An Israeli passport is worth more.”

Rabbi Aviner added, “I do not see evidence that over the ages they have done anything to really compensate for the expulsion. …If they really want to repent, they should at least stand by our side politically when we are attacked.”

The visitors were treated like high-level diplomats, complete with round-the-clock police protection and motorcade escorts wherever they travelled.

According to the JTA editorial, “for four-and-a-half days, cabinet ministers and senior officials made pilgrimages to the delegation’s hotel. In between, there were excursions for meetings with even more senior officials, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and King Juan Carlos I. Not only did his majesty pose for photos with each visitor, but he also broke with the script to exchange pleasantries with them.”

The COP Mission, however, were forthright about their agenda in Spain. They chatted with King Juan Carlos about Israel’s security in the hopes of shoring up support for Iran’s further international isolation and for Spain to declare their opposition to the BDS campaign against Israel.

balance of natureDonate

Latest article

- Advertisement -