Portugal's president:
'I am proud of my Jewish ancestry'
By MICHAEL FREUND
The Jerusalem Post, Nov. 7, 2003
With its marble floors, ornate furniture, and rare artwork,
Lisbon's Belem Palace could easily compete with some of Europe's
finest museums. Although not a cultural institution per se, the
palace does serve a central function in the life of Portugal: It is
home to the president of the republic, Dr. Jorge Sampaio.
Sampaio has served as president since 1996, having been re-elected to
a second five-year term in 2001. Unlike in Israel, the presidency in
Portugal is more than just a ceremonial post. He is
commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and has the power to dissolve
parliament and call for national elections.
Sampaio would have little difficulty being counted for a minyan: His
maternal grandmother was from a Moroccan Jewish family. His cousin is
president of the Lisbon Jewish community, and Sampaio has several
distant relatives living in Israel.
In an interview with The Jerusalem Post, Sampaio discussed the
rising tide of European anti-Semitism, Portuguese-Israeli relations,
and his Jewish ancestry.
Mr. President, anti-Semitism is on the rise across Europe. Why does
much of the continent seem unable to cure itself of this prejudice?
I have constantly denounced all forms of discrimination and
xenophobia, be it of religious, ethnic, cultural, sexual, or any
other nature. I obviously condemn any form of anti-Semitism.... The
resurgence of anti-Semitism in Europe is a fact -
although it is not a pattern - and must also be seen in
the framework of the resurgence of other forms of xenophobia and
racial hatred. These manifestations do exist and we must fight all of
them with the same energy, attacking their causes, and prosecuting
those that sow hatred and violence.
Anti-Israel and anti-Zionist sentiments in Europe often seem to be
a cover for expressing anti-Semitic feelings under the guise of
political opposition to Israeli policies. Why is Europe so critical
of Israel? Is anti-Semitism a factor?
I believe that we must be careful with our assertions. I am ready to
admit that some criticism of Israel might have some anti-Semitic
motivations. But I absolutely reject that all criticism of Israeli
policies has such motivations. In fact, many people who criticize
such policies have the security of Israel and the well-being of the
Israeli people at the core of their motivations, I for one. I do
believe that Europe's position has strived to be fair and balanced,
even if, sometimes, we have not managed to make our position
sufficiently clear.
The Portuguese Embassy in Israel sits in Tel Aviv, even though
Jerusalem is Israel's capital. Why won't Portugal recognize Israel's
sovereign right to determine its own capital?
I know how important and sensitive this issue is for Israelis and
most Jews. You know the historical context of this situation. We are
bound in this matter by the collective decisions of the European
Union. But I also want to tell you that my sincere wish would be for
our embassy to move to Jerusalem as soon as possible, for that would
mean that peace would finally be at hand.
Portugal was once home to a thriving Jewish community, which was
cruelly persecuted and forced to convert in 1497. Has Portugal come
to terms with what was done to the Jewish people on its soil?
We have come to terms with our own history, with its more brilliant
and with its more shady aspects. The difference now is that all
periods of our history are being studied and that we have today a
much better knowledge of them. The ceremonies which took place on the
500th anniversary of the Decree of Expulsion, over which I presided
with the then- speaker of the Knesset are proof of all this.
Five centuries ago, the Catholic Church and the Portuguese
monarchy confiscated Jewish property, including synagogues and other
communal structures. Shouldn't they be returned to the Jewish people
as an act of historical justice?
We cannot rewrite or relive history. We cannot go back centuries. We
cannot today, after 500 years, redress a situation in material terms.
I think we have redressed it in an historical perspective, and I
think that all Portuguese, including Portuguese citizens that are
Jewish, feel comfortable about it.
A growing number of Portuguese descendants of Jews who were
forcibly converted to Catholicism during the Inquisition have
recently begun to return to Judaism. What do you think of this
phenomenon?
We are proud of our history and of our humanistic values, of the
multicultural fabric of our society. If people adopt or return to
Judaism, it is entirely a personal issue that enriches our cultural
dynamics.
I understand that you have Jewish ancestry in your family. What is
your personal connection to the Jewish people? Do you consider
yourself to be a Jew?
My grandmother belonged to a Jewish family that came from Morocco in
the beginning of the 19th century. She married a non-Jewish naval
officer who later was Foreign Affairs minister. I am naturally very
proud of this ancestry and of all those that I call my "favorite
Jewish cousins," one of whom is the president of the Lisbon Jewish
Community, as I am proud of the ancestry on my non-Jewish father's
side. Personally, I am agnostic, and I do not consider myself a Jew;
but I am proud, as I said, of my ancestors.
Has your Jewish background ever been an issue for you in politics?
The answer is no. Portugal, as I have said, is a democratic lay
state. Issues of religion, culture, or race are not and should not be
an issue in the political arena.
You visited Israel twice as mayor of Lisbon, but have yet to do so
as the president of Portugal. Do you have any plans to visit Israel
soon?
I would very much like to visit Israel again. I have very strong and
enriching memories of my previous two visits. I follow closely
developments in your country and in the region. The present situation
saddens me very much indeed. And my sincere hope is that, amid all
the present difficulties, Israelis and Palestinians can find a way by
which to build peace and to end this tragedy and all the suffering it
has entailed for both peoples.
