The Barcelona City Council has once again made a controversial decision that severely strains relations with Israel and raises questions about institutional antisemitism. Following the closure of the Generalitat’s office in Tel Aviv, a resolution was passed this Friday with far-reaching consequences: the partnership between Barcelona and Tel Aviv will be terminated, and the participation of Israeli companies or entities in trade fair exhibitions will be prohibited. Furthermore, it will no longer be possible to contract companies linked to Israel or expressing sympathy for the Jewish cause.
The Actors Behind the Decision
This volatile agreement was signed by three key parties: the PSK, the Comuns de Colau, and the ERC. This alliance has brought about a reversal in Barcelona’s urban policy, which had only a few months earlier seen a resumption of the twin-city partnership with Tel Aviv under Socialist Jaume Collboni, previously interrupted by Ada Colau. However, the rapprochement was short-lived. Following the massacre and kidnapping of Jews by Hamas on October 7, 2023, the Comuns and ERC, under the pretext of Israel’s response to the attack, once again pulled the mayor onto antisemitic ground.
Judicial Intervention and Its Ineffectiveness
Already a year ago, last November, a similar decision was overturned by a court in Barcelona. Administrative Court No. 10 of Barcelona declared the then-municipal agreement null and void, arguing that it “created an unjustified unequal treatment” and that the City Council exceeded its powers. The court emphasized that the resolution sent “a clearly negative message of distancing and hostility towards Israel and its citizens.”
Despite this clear ruling and the warning it contained, the three aforementioned parties – with the abstention of Junts and the opposing votes of PP and Vox – have once again shown a similar stance half a year later. The current resolution called for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire,” demanded the intervention of the International Criminal Court against the Netanyahu government, and called for an economic boycott against Israel. Notably, the release of the hostages, still held by Hamas terrorists, was not mentioned.
Background and Context of the Relations
The latest decision is part of a series of tensions between Barcelona and Israel. This development is a matter of great importance not only in Spain but also internationally and is viewed by many as an alarming sign of the spread of institutional antisemitism. The impact on Barcelona’s economy and international relations could be significant.
