The Ancient Synagogue of Barcelona was vandalized on Monday, the eve of Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day, when masked individuals sprayed the walls of the site with antisemitic graffiti.
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The graffiti reads in Spanish "Free Palestine from the river to the sea," a common phrase heard at pro-Palestinian rallies and demonstrations, and "solidarity with the Palestinian people."
The perpetrators also left a note in the local Catalan tongue accusing Israel of carrying out a "Palestinian genocide" and enforcing apartheid.
The letter also condemned Israel as a "murderous country" that demolishes the homes of innocent people and steals land with the support of "deadly elites."
In February, the Spanish city announced that it will be severing ties with Israel and cutting its twin city agreements with Tel Aviv due to the Jewish state's “apartheid policy” towards Palestinians.
Mayor Ada Colau made the announcement during a press conference, which ended with applause from pro-Palestinian activists and lawmakers, with some shouting "Free Palestine."
Further, Colau sent a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, explaining her decision. "I have decided to temporarily sever relations with Israel and its institutions, including the twin city agreement with Tel Aviv, until Israeli authorities stop the systematic violation of human rights of the Palestinian people."
Colau added that the freezing of ties is temporary, and is not directed against the Israeli public, which frequents the Spanish city for vacations.
Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt, president of the Conference of European Rabbis, said that "The fate of the Jewish community in Barcelona is affected by what is happening in Israel. Tonight's events are a direct continuation of the Barcelona municipality's decision to sever relations with Israel and accuse them of apartheid and Palestinian genocide.
The irresponsible decision of Barcelona Mayor Colau Ballano to unilaterally sever relations with the State of Israel put the Jewish community in the city in real danger. Any case of vandalism and any blood spilled as a result of this unfortunate choice will be on her hands."
In a letter to Tel Aviv Mayor Ron Huldai and during a press conference on Thursday, Martínez-Almeida said the twinning is a “great opportunity to show Madrid’s commitment to strengthening relations with a democratic and a law-abiding state like Israel.”