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Central Asia

Men gather for Friday evening prayers at Bukhara's oldest synagogue, one of just two still functioning, in the old city of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, October 17, 2025. (Sue Surkes/Times of Israel)
December 12, 2025, 3:50 pm
In an ancient oasis in Bukhara, a tiny Jewish community relies on its Muslim neighbors
Once an influential Jewish hub on Central Asia’s Silk Road, urban center in Uzbekistan is now home to just several hundred Jews, unthreatened by antisemitism, struggling to keep tradition alive
By Sue Surkes
Foreign Minister Eli Cohen meets with Azerbaijani Economy Minister Mikayil Jabbarov in Baku on April 18, 2023. (Shlomi Amsalem/GPO)
August 2, 2025, 12:51 am
Trump looks to bring Azerbaijan, Central Asian nations into Abraham Accords
US president’s team in talks with several countries that already recognize Israel about largely symbolic move, as Saudi normalization efforts have stalled amid Gaza war
By Reuters and ToI Staff
A man rests on the bank of the Caspian Sea in Baku, Azerbaijan, Monday, June 7, 2021. (AP/Darko Vojinovic)
January 18, 2023, 12:29 pm
Eyeing Iran, Israel moves to shore up ties with neighboring Caucasus, Central Asia
Energy-rich Azerbaijan, chafing at Iranian threats, set to open embassy in Tel Aviv, with Israel seeing chance to expand relations with others in region as well
By Lazar Berman
Vladimir Kritsman, left, the principal of Kyrgyzstan's only Jewish school, Pri Etz Haim, gives a tour to EU Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Eduard Auer on June 27, 2022. (EU in Kyrgyzstan)
July 6, 2022, 4:06 am
Inside the international campaign to save Kyrgyzstan’s only Jewish school
When Pri Etz Haim-Ort was served an eviction notice, a Jewish leader got Israel, the EU, US and others to pressure local authorities to come to the aid of the tiny community
By Judah Ari Gross
Policemen secure the entrance to the Stockholm District Court where Uzbek national Rakhmat Akilov, prime suspect in the Stockholm truck attack, appeared in court on April 11, 2017. (AFP Photo/TT News Agency/Fredrik Sandberg)
April 12, 2017, 6:38 pm
Stockholm attack suspect tried to join IS in Syria – reports
Rakhmat Akilov reportedly influenced by fellow Central Asians, received order from terror group to carry out truck-ramming
By AFP
Young people hold candles as they gather to honor the memory of the victims of subway bombing on Marsovo Polye in St. Petersburg, Russia, Wednesday, April 5, 2017. (AP/Yevgeny Kurskov)
April 11, 2017, 2:03 pm
Russia says all St Petersburg metro bombing suspects from Central Asia
Eight people being held in Moscow and Saint Petersburg over last week’s terror attack that killed 13
By AFP
In this undated photo obtained Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017, a man believed to be the Islamic State gunman who killed dozens at an Istanbul nightclub on New Year's Eve films himself as he wanders near Istanbul's Taksim square. (DHA-Depo Photos via AP)
January 8, 2017, 2:03 pm
Istanbul nightclub attacker said identified as Uzbek jihadist
Turkish media reports fugitive gunman who killed 39 in New Year’s shooting rampage is a member of Central Asian Islamic State cell
By AFP
This hand out picture released by the Turkish police and taken from Dogan News Agency on January 2, 2017 shows the main suspect in the Reina nightclub rampage one day after a gunman killed 39 people, including many foreigners, in an attack at an upmarket nightclub in Istanbul where revellers were celebrating the New Year. AFP/Dogan News Agency / Handout)
January 3, 2017, 4:54 pm
Wanted Istanbul terrorist ‘fought for IS in Syria’
Turkish media reports gunman was well-trained and ‘specially selected’ by Islamic State to carry out shooting rampage
By Stuart Williams
PM Netanyahu and Kazakhstan's President Nursultan Nazarbayev in Astana, December 14, 2016 (Haim Zach/GPO)
December 17, 2016, 1:22 am
Netanyahu scores diplomatic home run in Iran’s backyard
PM’s visit to Central Asia underlines ability to punch holes in former taboo across the Muslim world on openly embracing Israel
By Cnaan Liphshiz
Then-Kazakh president Nursultan Nazarbayev (L) and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) inspect an honor guard during their meeting in Astana on December 14, 2016. (AFP PHOTO/ILYAS OMAROV)
December 15, 2016, 7:22 pm
On PM’s visit to Asian Muslim states, a not-so-subtle message to the Arab world
Netanyahu sees his trip to Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan as a model for warming relations, but the two countries he toured are atypical in their approach to Islam
By Raphael Ahren
A Tamir missile fired from an Iron Dome missile defense battery during a trial in the United States in April 2016. (Rafael Advanced Defense Systems)
November 10, 2016, 8:54 pm
Azerbaijan set to buy Iron Dome from Israel – report
Local media says Israeli-made missile defense batteries to be used by Azeri military, which is in conflict with neighboring Armenia
By ToI Staff
Shirin Yakubov visiting the main synagogue of Bukhara, Uzbekistan, with her son, in orange shirt, his friend and the site's two Muslim caretakers, September 9, 2016. (Cnaan Liphshiz/JTA)
September 15, 2016, 5:07 am
Why Uzbekistan’s Jews already miss the iron fist of their late ruler
While stability comes at the cost of certain personal liberties, some in the small community of 13,000 prefer it that way
By Cnaan Liphshiz
In this file photo taken on Friday, July 10, 2015, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov gestures at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Ufa, Russia. (AP/Ivan Sekretarev)
September 4, 2016, 11:27 pm
Uzbek chief rabbi: No worries for Jews after president’s death
Islam Karimov, who died last week, had ‘excellent relations’ with dwindling community of 13,000, last remaining rabbi says
By JTA
People throw flowers on limousines as they gather along a road to watch the funeral procession of President Islam Karimov in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, September 3, 2016. (AP/Umida Akhmedova)
September 4, 2016, 9:30 pm
Rivlin sends condolences on passing of Uzbek leader
President notes good relations between Jewish state and the Central Asian nation, long history of Uzbek Jews
By ToI Staff
In this file photo taken on Friday, July 10, 2015, Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov gestures at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization summit in Ufa, Russia. (AP/Ivan Sekretarev)
September 3, 2016, 9:24 am
President Islam Karimov of Uzbekistan dies at age 78
Death of one of the world’s most authoritarian rulers raises concerns predominantly Sunni Muslim country could face prolonged infighting
By Jim Heintz
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