In the News

Yedioth Ahronoth By: Itamar Eichner July 15, 2021 The Turkish president and his associates have sent messages to Israel that Ankara is interested in restoring relations with Jerusalem, and offers to act as a mediator with Hamas to advance Israeli interests such as the issue of prisoners and missing persons. Senior Israeli officials: We will not normalize relations as long as Hamas’ military wing activity in Istanbul is not stopped Turkish President Erdogan (Photo: AP) Turkish President Recep...

Khaleej Times By: Rabbi Marc Schneier July 08, 2021 We are seeing friendship and love, and these warm sentiments are having a positive effect throughout the world. There was no Benjamin Netanyahu, and no Donald Trump or Jared Kushner in Abu Dhabi or Dubai as an Israeli foreign minister set foot in the UAE for the first time. But their absence in no way diminished the significance of Yair Lapid’s historic visit. In fact, the shuffled deck of leaders now carrying the torch of Abraham Accords...

Jewish Journal By: Rabbi Marc Schneier June 17, 2021 From North Africa through the Middle East to Central Asia, governments are more assertively staking out their Israelophilic credentials, confident in the response of publics that now want closer connectivity to Israel and its people. Composite. Map: KeithBinns/Getty Images If anyone harbored doubts about the sustainability of Israel’s newfound partnerships in the Islamic world, the regional response to the formation of the Jewish state’s new government...

Azertac June 01, 2021 His Excellency Mr. Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Dear President Aliyev, I write to congratulate you and the beloved peoples of the Republic of Azerbaijan as you celebrate Republic Day on 28 May. Under your wise, visionary, and compassionate leadership, the Republic of Azerbaijan has distinguished itself as a global champion of ethnic and religious tolerance. Your tireless efforts to create and foster political and social conditions to strengthen the country’s...

The Jerusalem Post By: Rabbi Marc Schneier May 26, 2021 ARABS AND Jews protest the escalating violence and riots at Hefer Valley in the North, earlier this month.(photo credit: CHEN LEOPOLD/FLASH90) Amid the maelstrom of violent conflict between Israel and Hamas in recent days, we also have seen shining moments of Israeli Jews and Arabs rallying together to assert their common humanity and refuse to give in to fear and hate. On the Hemed bridge overlooking the main Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway, Jews...

The National By: Rabbi Marc Schneier May 03, 2021 Ultra-Orthodox Jews at the Western Wall in Jerusalem walk next to an Israeli flag lowered to half-staff to honour 45 people who died in a stampede in Mount Meron, May 2. EPA Almost 100,000 Jews live in the Muslim world today, spread out across 14 countries on three continents. This figure is far short of the hundreds of thousands of Jews that formerly flourished in the African, Asian and European countries where Islam is dominant. But for the first...

The Jerusalem Post By: Rabbi Marc Schneier April 21, 2021 The shimmering vision of venerable Jewish communities growing anew and brand-new ones springing dramatically to life in countries across the Arab and Muslim worlds is becoming a reality. MUSLIMS AND JEWS celebrate Hanukkah in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in December.(photo credit: CHRISTOPHER PIKE/REUTERS) Fifteen years ago, when I launched the Foundations for Ethnic Understanding’s campaign to build relations between Muslims and Jews around...

The Jerusalem Post By: Lahav Harkov March 30, 2021 A Bahraini team is expected to arrive in Israel in the coming weeks to set up an embassy in the Tel Aviv area. Bahrain’s Ambassador to Israel Khaled Yousif al-Jalahama.(photo credit: BAHRAIN MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS) Foreign Minister Gabi Ashkenazi approved Bahrain’s first-ever ambassador to Israel on Tuesday, ahead of the Gulf state’s opening of its embassy in coming weeks. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani appointed...

Gulf Business By: Rabbi Marc Schneier March 27, 2021 All the major Abrahamic faiths will be celebrating festivals of spring at the same time this year, symbolising hope for the year ahead This year, the Jewish holiday of Passover takes place from March 27-April 4, only one week before the advent of the monthlong Ramadan. The closeness of these two major Jewish and Muslim holidays, together with the Christian holiday of Easter – which takes place on Sunday, April 4, ensures that all the major Abrahamic...

Arab News By: Rabbi Marc Schneier March 26, 2021 “As we celebrate with friends and families, Jews and Muslims in the US can each honor the triumph of our common cause.” People rally in support of Muslim Americans and in protest at Donald Trump’s immigration policies in Times Square, New York, Feb. 19, 2017. (AP Photo) On Saturday, Jews around the world will commemorate the Exodus of the Israelites from enslavement when they celebrate the holiday of Passover, abstaining from bread and...