Barcelona’s newly appointed mayor, Jaume Collboni, has decided to reinstate the relationship between Barcelona and “Israel”, drawing criticism among Palestinians and pro-Palestine activists.
The move comes six months after the previous mayor had severed ties with the Israeli occupation, citing concerns about Israel’s alleged “apartheid” practices.
In February 2023, Ada Colau, the left-leaning mayor of Barcelona, sent a letter to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, declaring that the city would pause its interactions until Israel ceased “systematic violation of the people of Palestine’s human rights.”
She further stated that the city had opted to temporarily halt its engagement with the “Israel,” including the twinning agreements.
Move Draws Criticism
The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions National Committee maintained its critical stance on the new Barcelona mayor’s decision to renew ties with “apartheid” Israel, emphasizing, “It consciously harms indigenous Palestinians and our struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.”
Barcelona City Councillor Marc Serra took to X, to express his anger at Collboni for yielding to the “Zionist Lobby.”
“Collboni has decided to ’embrace’ Israel as it grapples with its worst democratic crisis, led by the far right, with a judicial reform that erodes the separation of powers and an escalation in violence against the Palestinian population,” Serra wrote.
“Now Collboni says he will travel to Palestine. I wish he had done it sooner to witness the current apartheid situation,” Serra added.
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