Spanish state calls attempts to boycott Israel a form of antisemitism
Parliament of the Balearic Islands Autonomous Community brands the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement a form of Jew-hatred, in landmark first
A Spanish state for the first time passed legislation declaring the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against Israel a form of antisemitism.
The parliament of the Balearic Islands Autonomous Community — one of 17 such entities that make up the semi-federal state kingdom of Spain — made the declaration in a June 11 motion that was passed unanimously and finalised last week.
It said the Balearic Islands condemn “any form of antisemitism” as defined by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, and “particularly the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, or BDS, and calls to boycott Israeli products, scientists, artists and athletes from Israel,” the motion reads. It also spoke about the need to research and educate about the unique Jewish history of the region, whose capital city, Palma, is on the island of Mallorca.
The definition of antisemitism referenced in the resolution includes some examples of anti-Israel vitriol, including comparisons between the Jewish state and Nazi Germany.
Spain’s judiciary has repeatedly defined BDS as a discriminatory endeavour, but legislation reflecting this view rarely passes.
Separately, an appeals court in Barcelona on Wednesday ordered a suburb of that city, Molins de Rei, to scrap its 2013 motion declaring support for BDS and calling Israel an apartheid state.
In 2018, an Israeli water polo team’s match against the national women’s team of Spain was canceled because the Nautical Club Molins de Rei refused to host it. ACOM, a pro-Israel group based in Madrid, sued the municipality.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.