FCJE criticises Barcelona City Council's stance that damages relations with Israel

The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) rejects and regrets the announcement just made by the Barcelona City Council breaking the twinning with Tel Aviv and the relations with the State of Israel. 

With the sole support of 4,000 signatures, by decree and without debate, the Governing Committee of the Barcelona City Council has taken this decision which represents neither in form nor in substance what Barcelona and its citizens are. 

In the last few weeks, pressure has been growing around the Jewish communities with this campaign of the Barcelona City Council.  

The FCJE has experienced this with great concern and we informed Mayor Ada Colau of this in an open letter dated 17 January. 

We believe that what happens in Tel Aviv, or in Israel, can give rise to different opinions, just like in any other country or city.  

Regardless of the government of the city of Tel Aviv, the Barcelona City Council has not taken into account that it is a city that is an example of coexistence, defence of freedoms, protection of minorities and where its citizens live in peace, regardless of their origin.  

We're saddened and outraged by the announcement of the mayor of Barcelona to temporarily suspend relations between the Catalan capital & Israel, including the twinning agreement with Tel Aviv.

The act is no doubt motivated by deep-seated anti-Israel biashttps://t.co/YuC5K17beK

— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) February 8, 2023

We are extremely concerned to see that only one city, only one country in the world is having its actions and legitimacy questioned. 

Israel happens to be the only Jewish country in the world. That is why, in our view, this decision has nothing to do with politics, human rights or peace. It has a name and it is called "sophisticated anti-Semitism". 

We believe that channels should be opened to discuss the problems and not to take unilateral decisions that destroy the important work done so far between the society of Barcelona and Tel Aviv with excellent results for both. 

We appeal to the citizens of Barcelona to continue working for coexistence and against anti-Semitism in whatever form it manifests itself.