Latest news with #JaumeCollboni
Leaders
a day ago
- Politics
- Leaders
Barcelona Severs Twin-City Ties with Tel Aviv over Gaza War
Barcelona's city council voted to cut twin-city ties with Israel and suspend its friendship agreement with Tel Aviv over Israel's genocide in Gaza, according to Al-Jazeera. 'The suffering and death in Gaza over the past year and a half, and recent attacks by the Israeli government, make any relationship unviable,' said Mayor Jaume Collboni during Friday's council session. The move seeks to cut all official relations with the Israeli government until they respect the international law and maintain fundamental rights of the Palestinian people. The city will also suspend a 1998 friendship agreement with Tel Aviv-Jaffa. Therefore, it urged the trade fair organizer Fira de Barcelona not to host any Israeli pavilions or companies which are part of the weapons trade or even profiting from the ongoing war in Gaza. In 2024, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state amid Israel's ongoing war in Gaza. Catalonia The Government of Catalonia announced on Thursday, May 22, the immediate closure of its trade office in Tel Aviv. This remarkable move comes amid mounting international criticism of Israel's heavy airstrikes and its blockade of humanitarian aid in Gaza. The Catalan government has also criticized Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. It described it as 'double standards' in addressing the genocide in Gaza, where 'basic rights are being violated.' 'We are fully committed to human rights, and this double standard regarding Israel's participation in Eurovision weakens us,' Catalan Government Spokesperson Sílvia Paneque stated during a press conference. Spanish Government During his speech in the parliament, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called Israel a 'genocidal state,' stating that Madrid 'does not do business' with such a country. The PM's remarks came as a response to a provocative comment from an anti-Israel member of parliament who condemned Spain's trade relations with what he called the 'genocide state' of Israel. Sanchez's comments sparked anger in Israel, prompting Israel's Foreign Ministry to summon the Spanish Ambassador, Ana Salomon, for a formal reprimand in Jerusalem. Since the beginning of Hamas-Israel War in Gaza in 2023, the Israeli strikes have killed more than 53,500 Palestinians and wounded more than 118,000, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Related Topics: Arab Ministers Condemn Israel's Ban on West Bank Visit France May Toughen Stance on Israel Over Gaza Aid Blockage Irish Politician Describes Israel's Military Campaign in Gaza as 'Barbaric' Short link : Post Views: 28
The National
3 days ago
- Business
- The National
Barcelona cuts twin-city ties with Tel Aviv over Gaza war
Barcelona's city council voted to cut institutional ties with the Israeli government and suspend its friendship agreement with the city of Tel Aviv over Israel's war on the Gaza Strip. 'The suffering and death in Gaza over the past year and a half, and recent attacks by the Israeli government, make any relationship unviable,' said Mayor Jaume Collboni during Friday's council session. The motion demands the end of all official relations with the Israeli government 'until respect for international law and the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people is restored'. It will also suspend a 1998 friendship agreement with Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and it urged the trade fair organiser Fira de Barcelona not to host Israeli government pavilions or companies involved in the arms trade or profiting from the conflict in Gaza. It is not the first time Barcelona has moved to suspend ties with Israel. In 2023, then-mayor Ada Colau took similar steps, which were later reversed when Mr Collboni won local elections. The move by Spain's second-largest city, a top tourist destination and home to one of the world's best-known football clubs, is merely symbolic. But it adds to a growing list of critics of Israel's war in Gaza. Last year, Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state in a co-ordinated decision that angered Israel. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is one of the most outspoken critics in the European Union of Israel's military operations in Gaza. While most European countries continue to affirm Israel's right to self-defence, there is horror at the scale of devastation in Gaza. It is the deadliest conflict between Israel and the Palestinians in decades. The Hamas -led attacks on October 7, 2023, killed some 1,200 people, with about 240 taken hostage. Israel's military response has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians, health authorities in Gaza have said.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Barcelona Breaks 'Friendship Agreement' with Tel Aviv Over Gaza War
Barcelona City Council voted Friday to sever institutional ties with the Israeli government and suspend its friendship agreement with Tel Aviv, citing violations of international law and the need to uphold the basic rights of the Palestinian people. The motion, which includes nearly 20 provisions, was backed by the ruling Socialist party along with far-left and leftist pro-independence groups. It calls for an end to all official relations with Israel 'until respect for international law' and the 'basic rights of the Palestinian people' are restored. Barcelona will also suspend a 1998 friendship agreement with Tel Aviv-Jaffa. 'The suffering and death in Gaza over the past year and a half, and recent attacks by the Israeli government, make any relationship unviable,' Barcelona's Mayor Jaume Collboni said during the council session, according to AFP. Among other symbolic measures, the City Council urged the trade fair organizer Fira de Barcelona not to host Israeli government pavilions or companies involved in the arms trade or profiting from the conflict in Gaza. A similar recommendation was made to the Port of Barcelona. It is not the first time Barcelona has moved to suspend ties with Israel. In 2023, then-mayor Ada Colau took similar steps, which were later reversed when Collboni won local elections. While the move has little practical impact, the decision by Spain's second-largest city -- a top tourist destination and home to one of the world's best-known football clubs -- adds to a growing list of critics of Israel's devastating war in Gaza. Barcelona's move comes a year after Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognized a Palestinian state in a coordinated decision slammed by Israel. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is one of the most outspoken critics in the European Union of Israel's military operations in Gaza.
Local Spain
3 days ago
- Politics
- Local Spain
Barcelona ends 'friendship agreement' with Tel Aviv over Gaza war
The motion, supported by the governing Socialist party along with far-left and leftist pro-independence groups, calls for an end to all official relations with Israel "until respect for international law" and the "basic rights of the Palestinian people" are restored. Barcelona will also suspend a 1998 friendship agreement with Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and it urged the trade fair organiser Fira de Barcelona not to host Israeli government pavilions or companies involved in the arms trade or profiting from the conflict in Gaza. A similar recommendation was made to the Port of Barcelona. "The suffering and death in Gaza over the past year and a half, and recent attacks by the Israeli government, make any relationship unviable," Barcelona's Mayor Jaume Collboni said during the council session. It is not the first time Barcelona has moved to suspend ties with Israel. In 2023, then-mayor Ada Colau took similar steps, which were later reversed when Collboni won local elections. While the move has little practical impact, the decision by Spain's second-largest city -- a top tourist destination and home to one of the world's best-known football clubs -- adds to a growing list of critics of Israel's devastating war in Gaza. Barcelona's move comes a year after Spain, Ireland and Norway officially recognised a Palestinian state in a coordinated decision slammed by Israel. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is one of the most outspoken critics in the European Union of Israel's military operations in Gaza.
Shafaq News
3 days ago
- Politics
- Shafaq News
Barcelona cuts ties with Israel over Gaza massacres
Shafaq News/ On Friday, Barcelona's city council voted to sever institutional relations with the Israeli government and suspend its friendship agreement with the city of Tel Aviv 'until international law is respected and the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people are guaranteed.' The decision, which includes around twenty measures, was supported by the ruling Socialist Party in Barcelona, several left-wing parties, and pro-independence groups. It calls for cutting institutional ties with the 'current Israeli government' and suspending the friendship pact signed on September 24, 1998, between Barcelona and Tel Aviv. Barcelona's Socialist mayor, Jaume Collboni, said the 'level of suffering and death witnessed in Gaza over the past year and a half, along with repeated Israeli government attacks in recent weeks, makes any relationship between the two cities unsustainable.' Among other measures included in the decision, some beyond the municipality's authority, the city council called on the board of the Barcelona trade fair to bar Israeli government pavilions, 'arms companies, or any sector benefiting from genocide, occupation, apartheid, and colonialism against the Palestinian people.' A similar recommendation is under consideration for the Port of Barcelona, advising it not to receive ships involved in transporting arms to Israel. It is not the first time Barcelona has suspended ties with the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. In February 2023, former mayor and social activist Ada Colau also decided to suspend relations with Israel and cancel twinning agreements with Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has 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 violations of international humanitarian law in Gaza and the killing of more than 50,000 people,' Sánchez said, stressing that there must be no 'double standards' between Ukraine and Gaza. Spain, which recognized the State of Palestine a year ago, renewed its call for an immediate halt to the war in Gaza and the urgent entry of humanitarian aid.
