Political leaders, academics, and representatives of Spain’s Jewish community gathered at Barcelona’s historic Saló del Tinell to officially launch the EMET Foundation – Verdad, a new initiative dedicated to combating antisemitism and all forms of hatred while promoting tolerance, democratic values, and social cohesion.
The foundation was presented before institutional representatives and the media, reflecting growing concern over the sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Catalonia and across Spain following the Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel on 7 October 2023.
The EMET Foundation – Verdad is promoted by Manuel Valls, former Prime Minister of France; Xavier Trias, former Mayor of Barcelona; Gabriel Colomé, Senator in Spain’s Cortes Generales; and historian Adrià Fortet, in close collaboration with the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) and the Jewish Community of Barcelona.
From its inception, the foundation has been conceived as a pluralistic, independent, and cross-sectoral platform, combining political leadership, academic expertise, and the direct experience of Jewish communities. The FCJE plays a central role in this effort, providing institutional leadership, historical perspective, and coordination with Jewish communities nationwide, ensuring that the fight against antisemitism is addressed both locally and at the national level.
The creation of the EMET Foundation comes amid a deeply troubling context. Since October 2023, Catalonia has witnessed serious antisemitic incidents, including harassment and attacks against homes and businesses linked to Jews, the circulation of discriminatory maps such as those published by Gogocarto, and most recently the vandalisation of the Jewish cemetery of Les Corts in Barcelona.
During the event, David Obadía, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE), condemned the desecration of the Les Corts cemetery and recalled the deep historical roots of Jewish life in the city. “Jewish history is inseparable from the history of Barcelona,” he emphasised, stressing the responsibility of institutions to protect Jewish heritage and citizens in the current climate.
With the active involvement of the FCJE, institutional partners, and civil society, the EMET Foundation – Verdad begins its work with the ambition of becoming a key reference point in the fight against antisemitism and hate-based discrimination in Catalonia, Spain, and Europe.
By fostering dialogue, education, and cooperation with public institutions and social organisations, the foundation aims to strengthen social cohesion and ensure that democratic values, human dignity, and peaceful coexistence remain at the heart of European societies.
