Jews

Jews are members of an ethnoreligious group linked by shared history, culture, civilization, ethical values and experiences arising from Judaism. Some notable Jews who were important in the history of the libertarian movement were Ludwig von Mises, Murray Rothbard, Ayn Rand, and Milton Friedman. Many Jews have been active in the civil liberties movement, including Alan Dershowitz and Julian Heicklen.

Jews and the Jewish nation, Israel, have been the subject of much controversy. For many centuries, Jews have been accused of undermining the good of the societies in which they have lived, and have been ordered or pressured to leave various countries. A notable example was the Edict of Expulsion, issued by Edward I of England in 1290. Although Jews are only 2 percent of the U.S. population, they are a politically and economically influential group. It is generally considered expedient for U.S. politicians to pledge military and other support for Israel, an important ally of the United States in the Middle East. Most Jews have a right of return to Israel; this rule, and the Israeli state, were set up after World War II and the Holocaust largely to provide a haven for Jews fleeing persecution.