A Spanish branch of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement has blamed last Thursday’s terror attack in Barcelona on Europe’s "complicity in human rights violations worldwide,” drawing condemnation from a Spanish pro-Israel network.
The pro-Israel group ACOM called BDS Catalonia’s statement - which cited "the victims of military occupations, of wars and terrorism in Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestina” and elsewhere - as “grotesque," and countered that “a movement based on hatred, the perpetuation of conflict and defense of terrorism like BDS cannot avoid proving at all times its immorality and double standard.”
In its statement, BDS Catalonia had also said “We emphasize our opposition to Islamophobia, Xenophobia and all forms of discrimination,” calling for “solidarity” and adding the hashtag #Barcelona.
Thirteen people were killed and 50 wounded in central Barcelona Thursday afternoon after a van plowed into pedestrians near a kosher restaurant in the crowded Las Ramblas district, a wide boulevard popular with tourists around a five-minute walk from the ancient Sinagoga Mayor de Barcelona.
World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder condemned the “heinous act of violence and carnage” following the attack.
Israel’s Channel 10 reported that Meir Bar Chen, the city’s Chief Rabbi, said that while Jewish institutions had been closed down as a precaution, the attack did not appear to be aimed at Jews. The Israeli Foreign Ministry has stated that it does not know of any Israeli casualties.
Bar Chen also called the continued viability of his community into question, a position vociferously disputed by the local community, which posted on its Facebook page that his words did "not represent the community.” The rabbi subsequently backtracked, telling the Jerusalem Post that his words had been taken out of context and that "the Jews of Spain were exiled once and will not be exiled again.”
“To be a Jew in Spain is easier than any other country in the world,” he said. “I walk in the streets with a kippa and nobody will say a word.”
