American Jewish reggae star Matisyahu sang his famous song “Jerusalem” as protesters waved Palestinian flags at a music festival in Spain. Matisyahu performed a 45-minute set early Sunday morning at the Rototom SunSplash Festival, two days after the festival apologized for canceling his performance in the face of pressure from the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and…
It looked like a big coup for a small-time player when a pro-Palestinian group in Spain’s third-largest city, BDS Pais Valencia, managed to convince an international reggae festival to cancel a closing-night performance by the American ex-Hasidic star Matisyahu. Instead, it blew up in its face. Spanish and international politicians, musicians and newspapers protested what…
The righteous uproar over the Matisyahu fiasco has dissipated as quickly as it started. Disquieting and galling as the Spanish music festival’s initial decision to disinvite the musician was, we really ought to celebrate: It’s one of the few victories we’ve had in a bad streak of stinging defeats. The cherry on top is that…
A Spanish public broadcaster accused Jews of promoting Satanism. The assertion was the focus of a radio program titled “From the Inferno — The Jewish People: Propagator of the Satan Cult” aired last month by the state-owned RTVE broadcaster as part of its weekend “A la Carta” program. The program begins with ominous music, followed…
Jewish groups protested on Monday after a Spanish reggae festival canceled a concert by an American Jewish musician when he failed to reply to a demand to clarify his position on Palestinian statehood. Matisyahu, who fuses reggae, hip-hop and rock with Jewish influences in his songs, had been due to perform next Saturday at the…
The Madrid alderman for culture under fire for posting a joke about the Holocaust on Twitter four years ago has resigned. Guillermo Zapata resigned Monday after opposition parties and the umbrella group for Jewish communities in Spain demanded he step down, the Spanish daily El Pais reported. Madrid Mayor Manuela Carmena, who took office on…
Spain’s lower house gave final approval to a law offering citizenship to descendants of Sephardic Jews. Under the law approved Thursday, the Spanish daily El Pais reported, applicants are able to apply without traveling to Spain, as proposed in previous amendments which did not pass, but are required to hire a Spanish notary and pass…
Spain’s Congress is poised to vote on final amendments that would make it possible for descendants of Sephardic Jews to apply for citizenship. The Congress of Deputies is scheduled to vote on the amendments on June 11, according to a statement published on the Congress’ website on Monday. Under the amendments, approved by the Spanish…
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