The British royal family has always fascinated the Israeli public. The palace dramas have been a staple of news and gossip websites in Israel over the years, ever since the time of Princess Diana, whose tragic death broke hearts worldwide, including in Israel. To this day, Israelis avidly follow the dramas and stories emerging from Buckingham Palace.
But is this interest, if not affection, mutual? Spoiler: No. 9 View gallery King Charles III and Queen Camilla ( Photo: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images ) Before we dive in, a bit of history is in order: The year was 1066, when Jews first arrived on the British Isles following the Norman Conquest. History tells us that for over a century, they thrived as moneylenders, but a wave of antisemitic riots, starting at King Richard I's coronation banquet, quickly changed their situation.
Although the new king opposed the rioters and even issued a protection decree for the Jews, the locals, eager to cancel their debts, continued their murderous rampages. In 1278, during the reign of King Edward I, hundreds of Jews were imprisoned on charges of coin clipping. It is believed that at least ten percent of the Jewish population was executed until Edward expelled the Jews in 1290.
Although some Jews moved to England after being expelled from Spain in 1492, it was only in 1656 that Jews were officially welcomed back by English general Oliver Cromwell, who had overthrown the monarchy during the English Civil War. 9 View gallery Oliver Cromwell ( Ph.
