Ethnic and religious minorities

Jewish groups hail California law making it the first state to list ‘Jewish’ as an ethnicity

Also on Wednesday, Newsom approved AB 1763, which will include religious holiday observance as a type of excused absence in schools without requiring a written request from a parent or guardian. 

|BySHARON UDASIN/ JTA
Potential 2028 presidential candidate, California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during an event held by the state Democratic Party at the Clubhouse at King's Grant in Summerville, South Carolina, Sept. 3, 2026.
An abandoned improvised mortar system is seen on the side of a road in Sinjar, Iraq, with a Kurdish flag flying in the background, January 26, 2016

Yazidi fighters disarm in Iraq's Sinjar after a decade of division - what comes next? - analysis

Baghdad’s push to bring armed groups under state control is gaining traction with the YBS, unlike with Iraq’s more powerful, Iranian-backed militias.

|BySETH J. FRANTZMAN
Yair Golan addresses the crowd at the Democrats Party primaries in Tel Aviv on July 20, 2026.

Democrats announce Knesset slate ahead of elections, MK Lazimi takes second spot after Golan

The left-wing Democrats are one of the core parties in the opposition bloc seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the elections, set for October 27.

|ByKESHET NEEV
A delegate in ethnic minority costume arrives before the closing session of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 12, 2026.

China implements law requiring minorities conform to CCP cultural, religious guidelines

Members of China’s 55 government-recognized ethnic minorities, which include the Uyghur and Tibetan peoples, make up just under 9% of the population.

|ByGOLDIE KATZ

Gov’t signs Holocaust education agreement with Myanmar, accused of ethnic cleansing

The agreement covers educational cooperation from the preschool level all the way to university.

MAY 30, 2018ByLAHAV HARKOV
Handshake (illustrative)

Religious tolerance is a safeguard of peace and security

DECEMBER 13, 2017ByGURBANOV RAFI
The Jerusalem Post