Over 500 years after their descendants were expelled from Spain in 1492, more than 132,000 Jews have applied for Spanish nationality under a limited-term offer, officials said Tuesday after the deadline expired.
Several Israeli passengers on an Iberia flight to Tel Aviv were unpleasantly surprised when the Spanish pilot's announced "Welcome to Palestine" as they landed.
Madrid's new administration faced its first casualty of office with the resignation of a councillor on Monday following a storm of criticism over anti-semitic tweets he had sent in 2011.
More than five centuries after Jews were banished from the kingdom of Spain during the Spanish Inquisition, lawmakers on Thursday righted an "historical mistake" and approved a law to allow their descendants win dual citizenship.
Cities across Spain have banded together to boost their profile of their Jewish heritage sites but some critics argue the move is more about tourism dollars than anything else.
The president of the association for victims of Madrid's 2004 terrorist bombings has racially attacked US President Barack Obama and his wife on Twitter over their handling of the Gaza conflict, saying it could lead to future terrorist attacks.
A controversial writer is facing legal action from Madrid's Jewish community after writing an opinion piece in a leading Spanish daily in which he justified the expulsion of Jews throughout history on the basis that they aren't made to "coexist".
Spain is set to make it even easier for descendants of Spain's Sephardic Jews to obtain Spanish citizenship by doing away with a requirement that they renounce other citizenships they hold.
The residents of the tiny Spanish town of Castrillo Matajudíos, or Castrillo 'Jew Killer' on Sunday voted to change the name of the village and lay the ghosts of their past to rest.
The mayor of Castrillo Matajudíos, or Castrillo 'Jew Killer' in English, is calling for his tiny Spanish village to be renamed after something less representative of its dark past.
Spain's Justice Minister told American Jewish groups on Wednesday why the European country is offering citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492, an event he has labelled "the biggest mistake in Spanish history".
Spain's offer of citizenship to the descendants of Jews who were expelled from the country over 500 years ago during the Inquisition has sparked a flurry of global interest.
Descendants of the Muslims who were kicked out of Spain in the 17th century have criticized the Spanish government for only granting citizenship to the country's former Jewish population, saying the move could be "racist".
One of Europe's most influential rabbis has said the offer of Spanish citizenship made to Sephardi Jews comes a "little late" and that those who apply for a passport will only do so to enter other EU member states.
Jewish associations expect 3.5 million Sephardic Jews to apply for Spanish citizenship after Spain's Justice Ministry approved a draft law which will allow them to return to the country their ancestors were kicked out of more than 500 years ago.
