By Julian Schvindlerman This December, a quarter of a century ago, the Holy See and the State of Israel signed the Fundamental Agreement that paved the way towards the full normalization of bilateral ties, crystallized in the establishment of diplomatic relations a few months later. How did the parties reach this transcendental agreement? The story … Seguir leyendo The Vatican-Israel Secret Negotiations towards the Fundamental Agreement of 1993 – 12/12/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 30/10/18 The New York Times Journeys is the international travel program of the eminent New York newspaper. It offers guided tours by experts to various places in the world, ranging from the mundane to the exotic: “Trends and Flavors of Bohemian Budapest;” “Arts, Food and Markets of Mexico … Seguir leyendo The Peculiar World Tours of The New York Times – 30/10/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 12/10/18 Marking the Armenian Remembrance Day in 2016, then-President Barack Obama called it the “first mass atrocity of the 20th century.” A prominent personality did not agree with such lukewarm characterization: “Moral leadership is impossible when crimes against humanity are met with euphemisms.” The man who said that … Seguir leyendo Ambassador Henry Morgenthau: A Voice that Cried Out in the Desert – 12/10/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 06/09/18 A few days ago, the Public Radio of Israel (KAN) broadcast part of German composer Richard Wagner´s opera Götterdämmerung. As audience protest soon arose, radio authorities had to apologize for what they called was an «error». The work of Richard Wagner has been marred in controversy for … Seguir leyendo The Wagner Controversy – 06/09/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 25/07/18 https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/daniel-barenboim-proud-palestinian/ In an article published in the Israeli newspaper Haaretz and republished at least in the British The Guardian, the Spanish El País and the Argentine La Nación, acclaimed conductor Daniel Barenboim expressed feeling ashamed to be an Israeli since the state “passed a law which replaces … Seguir leyendo Daniel Barenboim, Proud Palestinian – 25/07/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 12/06/18  Last week, Argentina was supposed to play a football match against Israel. Instead, it ended up playing a political match against Palestine –and lost by a landslide. After being exposed to numerous pressures and threats, led by the Palestinian Football Association, the Argentine team succumbed. The match … Seguir leyendo Messi, Rajoub — and Firmenich? – 12/06/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 03/5/18  As Paul Johnson pointed out in The History of the Jews, many prominent nineteenth-centurysocialist Jews hailed from wealthy families. When they went radical, they turned their backs totheir lineage and, more often than not, to the religion of their ancestors. The father of FerdinandLasalle, founder of German … Seguir leyendo Karl Marx, the Jews and Capitalism – 03/05/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 29/1/18  For centuries, the Catholic Church´s popes have been Italians. In the last four decades, the Vatican has been led by three non-Italian popes: the Polish Karol Wojtyla, the German Joseph Ratzinger, and the Argentine Jorge Bergoglio. As Argentine journalist Pablo Sirvén has pointed out, Francis´s predecessors visited … Seguir leyendo Pope Francis Skips Argentina Once Again – 29/01/18 →

By Julian SchvindlermanThe Times of Israel – 4/1/18 Former Argentine Minister of Foreign Affairs (2010-2015) Hector Timerman is now under house arrest. He is not in prison only because he is terminally ill and he was granted the privilege. He was accused of betraying his country by secretly negotiating a Memorandum of Understanding with the … Seguir leyendo Hector Timerman’s Lament – 04/01/18 →