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Sephardic Jews line up for Spanish citizenship
Itay Blumenthal
Published: 09.02.14, 10:35
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49 Talkbacks for this article
1. Right of return after 500 years?
polly kettle   (02.09.14)
This must be a joke?
2. not about justice
(02.09.14)
This has nothing to do with righting an injustice. In 1492, the Spanish decided to steal the Jews' money to make themselves rich. Now the Spanish economy is worse than Turkey's and they have 26% unemployment (58% amongst 25 year olds and younger), so they want the Jews back to make them rich again.
3. A journalist in Barcelona in the Arab quarter
Rick ,   Raanana   (02.09.14)
Commented a few years ago: "we have replaced the sons of light with the sons of darkness. We have replaced those who gave us learning with those who cherish ignorance. We deserve everything we get" . It is too late for Spain. They had their chance and squandered it. Big time.
4. GDP per capita is much higher in Israel
better future?   (02.09.14)
It makes more economic sense to descendents of Jews living in Spain to seek immigration to Israel.
5. #2, you are so right.
Beary White ,   Norway   (02.09.14)
This is a cynic false move by the Spanish government. Portugal has an equal history as Spain and might try the same trick. Jews should never go back to Spain/Portugal.
6. I'm Ashkenazi so I guess I'm out...oh poor me
Conroy ,   Toronto Canada   (02.09.14)
Why would anyone want to gain Spanish citizenship anyway...unless maybe you're an impovrished third worlder. As for me, I'm already a citizen of the greatest country in the world so let's just say I won't lose any sleep over it.
7. dual citizenship means dual taxation
vered.com Israel   (02.09.14)
8. It is a trap
ben Girona ,   פתח תקוה   (02.09.14)
The Spanish are overwhelmingly antisemitic and hostile to Israel, with a few notable exceptions like the previous PM. They want to do this foremost so they can 'defend' a 'Palestinian right of return'. If Spain really wants to do something they can make a compensation package based on what was taken and add 500 years interest.
9. jewish Spain?????
HAYIM ,   GIBRALTAR_ NOT SPAIN   (02.09.14)
As a Sephardi with proven roots to pre inquisition times I can prodly state that all this fuss is just another smokescreen from the present Fascist Spanish government to conceal all their failures in corruption mismanagement and oppressive policies towards their own people. That said if you take out a Spanish national telephone directory you will notice that 90 percent of thesurnames are of single or double barrelled Jewish origin!!!
10. Spanish citizenship
H.franco ,   Woodmere   (02.09.14)
I grew up with parents who both spoke Ladino, proof? My customs , my religiosity etc. are proof enough, and I have no desire to claim Spanish citizenship , for what.? Exploitation? 500 years we maintained and flourished in other lands and now we have Israel. So Spain it is time for us to say Adios!
11. The expelled Jews got the last laugh
Conroy ,   Toronto   (02.09.14)
Turkey's Sultan Bajazet welcomed the expelled Jews warmly. "How can you call [Spanish king] Ferdinand of Aragon a wise king," he was fond of asking, "the same Ferdinand who impoverished his own land and enriched ours?" All I can say is that poverty the Sultan referred to looked good on Spain.
12. Get over yourselves!
Daniel   (02.09.14)
Seriously people, try to get over this enormous chip on your shoulder and your blind hate for people on earth. It's quite depressing that EVERY SINGLE TIME a foreign country is mentioned, 90% of all talkbacks are devoted to attacking that country. There's nothing pretty in inferiority complexes. Sure, the Spanish rulers did a very bad thing. That was over 500 years ago, hardly the fault of Spaniards' living today. And Israel is one of the greatest country on earth, and Jews one of the most successful people both in America and in Europe. There really isn't any need for this silly inferiority complex.
13. #6 Conroy - The best country?
Eric ,   Toronto   (02.09.14)
I guess you forgot already the horrible icy days we just had this winter without even electricity to heat our homes! Canada is great except for the weather which stinks! I would move any day to Spain if I had the opportunity.
14. Not a word of praise for the Moslems
Cynic #2   (02.09.14)
who took the Sephardi Jews in because they considered them as brothers and people of the Book. Don't the Sephardi Jews yearn for the Golden Era when they lived with and flourished under the protection of the Moslems? My guess is that they may have short memories.
15. Daniel @12, you have a point if you
blog ,   USA   (02.09.14)
are willing to forget that if not for likes of Inquisition and/or Naziism we would've been much greater in numbers and much greater still. And especially because all this anti-semitic crap is far from over throughout the World. I do not wish to be caught with my pants down ever again.
16. Spain's economy is falling apart
Scott ,   Ramat Gan   (02.09.14)
A quarter of the population is unemployed & will continue to be for a long time. Spain has already had one bailout & soon they will need another. They would love to get some rich Jewish money into their economy.
17. yeah right
split   (02.09.14)
I don't buy it. Jews from Spain? All Jews are from Poland or Russia. This is an obvious attempt by the netanyahu administration to control yet another foreign entity... ain't happening this time brother.
18. Poetic justice - Jews should donate their offered Spanish
blog2038 ,   USA   (02.09.14)
citizenship to Muslims.
19. Maybe that's the attitude
Leon ,   Rijssen   (02.09.14)
That got Jewish people expelled from over a 100 nations in the first place? That fascist racist we are the chosen ones mentality.... It was Torquemada who expelled the jews Torquamada was one of the worst psychopats of the church in history. He killed and expelled everyone who wasn't a Christian. And the spanish suffered worse than the jews under the inquisition you were saved by the Turks they welcomed you with open arms. So don't blame spain as a country you dumb historical nitwits all spanish people suffered under torquamada. Always making history into something to wine and nag about. Even when countries make a gesture like this no wonder nobody wants to be your friend..
20. Eric @13, move from Toronto to Vancuver and you'll be fine.
blog ,   USA   (02.09.14)
21. Get over Yourselves!
Leslie Green ,   Chester   (02.09.14)
Daniel - The posters you speak about are cynical, it's not an inferiority complex at all."Remember what Amalek did to you along the way when you came out from Egypt..." What Spain did to the Jews in 1492 was no different. Those who forget the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them.
22. Scott @17, great point. Looks like convenient
blog2038 ,   USA   (02.09.14)
narrative is all wrong. It would seem that Jews are from all over and are everywhere. What to do, what to do, what to do.
23. No thanks!
manicdrummer ,   Haifa, Israel   (02.09.14)
If I were a Jew of any stripe, I'd rather have Israeli citizenship.That would be all I need and all I'd want.
24. Schlesinger????
Y ,   Jerusalem   (02.09.14)
25. The Moors should also get dual citizenship too
(02.09.14)
26. Interested or not....
Merca ,   Barcelona.SPAIN   (02.09.14)
this is a right move.Stop to criticise Spain because your expulsion in 1.492.Britain ,for instance,put you out in 1.290 and nobody cvriticise them.Spain in spite of allied to German during WWII did help to save spanish sephardic jews.On the contrary,what did they do your so called anglos friends,bombing Hamburg and dresden instead of Auschwitz and Treblinka and tried to block your trip and rights to the Holy Land.
27. Mistake for Spain
Jake ,   Haifa   (02.09.14)
Soon the descendants of Muslims who were kicked out then (and later, after a near civil war) will demand the same right. Most of Morrocco in all likelihood will make the claim. And the human rights industry will support them, if not the courts. Big Mistake for Soain. As for why they are doing this now? They are desperate for money and investment.
28. protection?
nostalgic ,   TA   (02.09.14)
Hi there, yes Jews and Muslims lived relatively well together during that time. But even then there were massacres perpetrated against Jews. They were rare but they happened. Secondly, Jews are grateful for anybody who gave them protection but you can't seriously expect that Jews today yearn for a time when they were second-class citizens?.
29. Everyone should read ....
Sarah B ,   U.S.A. / Israel   (02.09.14)
.... "Sails of Hope," by the late Simon Wiesenthal, z"l. Everyone.
30. gracias
leo carvajal ,   Canada   (02.09.14)
gracias pero noooo!!!
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