The Spanish Jewish community has raised alarm over a fivefold increase in antisemitic incidents across Spain during the last semester, citing the conflict in Gaza as a contributing factor.
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain and the Movement against Intolerance jointly declared this concern, committing to coordinated action before the Prosecutor’s Office against speeches and hate crimes linked to antisemitism and racism.
María Royo, the communication director of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, presented data from the Antisemitism Observatory, co-directed by both entities, indicating a significant surge in antisemitic acts compared to the previous year’s corresponding period.
Royo emphasized receiving messages, emails, and calls branding them as “murderers and genociders,” highlighting the heightened hostility towards Jews in Spain and globally.
In response, both organisations signed a pact aimed at combating such behavior.
The agreement, endorsed by Isaac Benzaquen, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, and Esteban Ibarra, president of the Movement against Intolerance, outlines actions across five key areas. Notably, it prioritizes collective filing of complaints for incidents and hate crimes to safeguard victims’ interests.
Furthermore, the organisations pledged to disseminate public communications and engage in civic initiatives to combat antisemitism and associated intolerance. They also committed to enhancing awareness and expertise in addressing hate crimes, discrimination, and antisemitism across various sectors, including legal, security, media, and civil society.
The organisations underscored their commitment to bolstering the Antisemitism Observatory’s activities to address contemporary challenges effectively. They stressed the imperative to fully realize the observatory’s mission in confronting the resurgence of antisemitic sentiments, which they deem essential in the present context.
