On Friday, the Barcelona city council voted to cut off institutional ties with the Israeli regime and suspend a friendship agreement with the city of Tel Aviv “until international law is respected and the fundamental rights of Palestinians are guaranteed.”
The decision, which includes around 20 measures, was supported by Barcelona’s dominant Socialist Party, several left-wing parties, and independent groups.
It calls for a reduction in institutional ties with the “current Israeli government” and suspends the friendship agreement signed between Barcelona and Tel Aviv on September 24, 1998.
“The levels of suffering and death seen in Gaza over the past year and a half, and the Israeli government attacks in recent weeks, preventing the relationship between the two cities from being able to exist,” said Jaume Collboni, a socialist in Barcelona.
Among other measures included in the decision, beyond the authority of the municipality, the city council has called on the Barcelona trade fair to ban Israeli government pavilions.
Similar recommendations are being considered for the Port of Barcelona, advising people not to receive ships involved in transporting weapons.
It is not the first time that Barcelona has suspended Benjamin Netanyahu’s relationship with the government. In February 2023, former mayor and social activist Ada Korow also decided to suspend relations with Israel and cancel the twin agreement with Tel Aviv.
Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez urged all European Union member states to suspend the EU-Israel Association agreement and impose an arms embargo on Israel.
“It is unacceptable to remain silent in the face of Gaza’s violation of international humanitarian law and the murder of more than 50,000 people,” Sanchez stressed that there should be no “double standards” between Ukraine and Gaza.
Spain, which recognized the Palestinian province a year ago, has updated its call for an immediate halt of war and emergency humanitarian entry in Gaza.
rhm/