Wiesenthal Centre Disgusted at Barcelona

Paris-Barcelona-Tel Aviv - With a letter addressed to Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Mayor ofBarcelona, Ada Colau, shamelessly announced that her City Council decided - by unilateral decree, without a Council vote - to break its 1998 twinning agreement with Tel Aviv.

This decision came in spite of widespread protests in January, especially from the local Jewish community, because the planned datefor a “de-twinning” vote was January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day. All were hoping that Colau would backpedal on this anti-Zionist = antisemitic intent.

Dr. Shimon Samuels, Wiesenthal Centre Director for International Relations, stated that "this decision contravenes the IHRA(International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) Definition of Antisemitism, adopted by the EU, its member-States - including Spain -, other countries worldwide, international institutions,football clubs and municipalities..."
See: https://www.wiesenthal.com/barcelona-marks-holocaust-day.html

In her letter, Colau says she does it to protest against the “Apartheid” policies of the Israeli Government... So, letting aside theabsurdly biased definition, what responsibility does the City of Tel Aviv carry in regard to national government policies? As an example of multiculturalism and diversity, Tel Aviv isactually the epicenter of citizen protests against the current democratically elected Israeli government.

Colau's decision - undemocratically imposed on the City Council and on Barcelona’s population, Jewish and Gentile alike - is theCatalonian capital’s capitulation to BDS hatemongers (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions targeting Israel and the Jews). The Mayor has adopted the slimy tactics and defamatory language of the“international antisemitism movement.”

Thus Barcelona breaks with Tel Aviv, while still keeping twinning with Hamas-governed Gaza, with Putin's beloved St.Petersburg and with Ispahan - where the secret Iranian nuclear weapons program is reportedly based. Ispahan also hosts aircraft company HESA, that producesloitering drones "Shahed 136" (used by Russia against Ukrainian civilians), the modernized "Shahed 149 Gaza", the "Karrar" jet bomber-drone (in the inventory of Hezbollah)...

It appears clear that Barcelona's municipal leadership has chosen to be complicit with terrorist-led cities, autocratic warmongersand Ayatollahs brutalizing women and minorities, inciting a new - nuclear - Holocaust against Israel, the Jews and the West.

Congratulations Madam Mayor! You hit the Jackpot!

At this point, Madam Colau, please do not waste more ink or words in promising “this is not against a people, a community or areligion” or hoping this “will be a temporary measure.”

In these words and in your performance, it seems already clear that you have no respect for the State of Israel, for the citizens ofTel Aviv, for the friendly relations built over 25 years between the two cities... nor for the democratic debate and due process in your own town.

We are sure Barcelona will restore its honour you have so blatantly violated... hopefully as soon as possible, in a democraticmanner and most likely without your misleadership!

For further information contact Dr. Shimon Samuels at csweurope@gmail.com, join the Center on Facebook,or follow @simonwiesenthal for news updates sent directly to your Twitter feed.

The Simon Wiesenthal Center is one of the largest international Jewish human rights organizations with over 400,000 member families in the United States. It is an NGO at international agenciesincluding the United Nations, UNESCO, the OSCE, the OAS, the Council of Europe and the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino).