FEATURED JOBS
Comments (0)Jews from four European countries whose ancestors were forced to convert are visiting Israel. The 16 Bnai Anousim, historically called Marranos, are in the Jewish state under the auspices of the Shavei Israel organization to renew their ties to the Jewish people and to Israel. They come from Spain, Portugal, Italy and France. In addition to visiting religious and historical sites, they will take part in special classes on Jewish history, culture and religion being held for them in Spanish and Portuguese. The Marranos also will learn some Hebrew. Large numbers of Bnai Anousim around the world have started to openly embrace their Jewish heritage in recent years, according to Michael Freund, the chairman of Shavei Israel. Many are seeking to renew their connection with Israel and the Jewish people after centuries of preserving their identity in secret, he said.
Israel Releases 198 Palestinian Prisoners
Israel released 198 Palestinian prisoners as a goodwill gesture to Mahmoud Abbas. The release Monday came just hours before U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was scheduled to land in Israel for meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders. The Palestinians were released to Palestinian Authority custody at the Betuniya crossing north of Jerusalem near Ramallah. They were greeted as heroes by crowds of relatives and Fatah members in Ramallah. “I promise we won’t rest until we bring about the release of all the prisoners,” Abbas, the P.A. president, said during a rally held at the Mukata compound in honor of the freed prisoners. Two prisoners with “blood on their hands”—those who had been directly responsible for the deaths of Israelis—were released. One was Said al-Atabeh, 57, who had been in Israeli prisons since 1977 and was the longest-serving prisoner. Before their release the prisoners signed waivers promising not to engage in terrorist activity again.
Rice Arrives in Israel
Condoleezza Rice arrived in Israel, prepared to press Israeli and Palestinian leaders on a peace agreement. The U.S. secretary of state, on her seventh Middle East trip in the past nine months, said Monday upon her arrival that she would work on small steps toward peace and not discuss an interim statement. Rice will spend two days in talks with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, separately and all together. Hours before Rice’s arrival, Israel released 198 Palestinian prisoners in a good-will gesture.
Protest Boats Set to Leave Gaza
Activists plan to smuggle two Fulbright scholars out of Gaza by boat, and Israel does not plan to stop them. Two boats carrying mostly Western protesters arrived in the Gaza Strip on Saturday from Cyprus, despite Israel’s two-year blockade of Gaza. The boat trip was organized to protest Israel’s blockade of the strip, and the activists brought with them hearing aids and balloons for Palestinian children. The boats plan to leave with two Palestinian Fulbright scholars denied U.S. visas to pursue their studies. Israel had barred them from leaving Gaza but had permitted five other Palestinian Fulbright scholars to leave the strip. Israel reportedly said it will not stop the boats with the two students aboard because such a move would generate negative media attention. Among the activists on the boats is Lauren Booth, the sister-in-law of former British prime minister Tony Blair.