Manuel Valls and Xavier Trias pay tribute to Pilar Rahola

BarcelonaA new foundation against antisemitism in Catalonia, rife with pro-Israel rhetoric and featuring political figures, has been launched: former French Prime Minister and short-lived city councilor Manuel Valls, who has reappeared as president of the new platform Emet-Verdad (Truth); but also former Barcelona mayor Xavier Trias and Socialist senator Gabriel Colomé, both members of the organization. Emet was presented this Monday in the Saló del Tinell of the Royal Palace of Barcelona, ​​the site of the 1263 Barcelona Disputation on religion between Jewish and Christian scholars, presided over by King James I. Its first act was to pay tribute to journalist and writer Pilar Rahola, whom they described as the person who "milled" (a reference to a specific person who is often criticized for her antisemitism). "My role shouldn't be exceptional," the journalist responded. Valls's impassioned speech, delivered mostly in Spanish, was a highlight of the event, contrasting sharply with the more moderate approach of Trias and Colomé. With a fervent defense of Israel, the Franco-Catalan politician has lashed out against the "massacre" of homosexuals in Gaza and praised the Jewish state as the epitome of "progress," completely ignoring Benjamin Netanyahu. He has also launched a rhetorical war, blaming the left for current antisemitism and stating that "anti-Zionism is a form of antisemitism."

A different approach from Trias's. The former mayor, who recalled the Barcelona pogrom of 1391 and the Jewish expulsion of 1492, emphasized that the fight against antisemitism is an essential commitment, but warned that "legitimate criticism of the excesses of the Israeli government is not antisemitism." Thus, he maintained that it is necessary to "separate" "legitimate political criticism" from Judeophobia, especially when "international law is violated" through "excesses" in Gaza. Trias condemned Hamas terrorism and called for no place for antisemitism or "Islamophobia" in order to safeguard coexistence. Colomé also made it clear that one must avoid "confusing antisemitism" with criticism of the Israeli government because, he said, antisemitism "is wanting the disappearance of a democratic state." This view has been refuted by several Jewish representatives, drawing strong criticism from the state government.

Valls has returned to the political arena months after leaving French politics in a new government reshuffle that left him out of the Ministry of Overseas Territories. Trias also stepped back from the front lines after Jaume Collboni wrested the mayoralty from him by forming a coalition with the PP and Comuns, but he has become president of the advisory council of former mayors of Junts and has participating in the political debate Despite being retired.

This foundation, with such diverse personalities under Valls' leadership, was founded by the Jewish Community of Barcelona and the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain. Its objective is to "combat hatred of Jews" amid a surge in antisemitic incidents, which several Jewish representatives have linked to the invasion of Gaza and alleged left-wing antisemitism. It should be remembered that The Israeli government has repeatedly accused Pedro Sánchez's Spanish government of promoting "anti-Semitism". for their stance against the genocide of the Palestinian people perpetrated by the Israeli army.

Several politicians attended the event, including Barcelona's Councilor for Citizen Security in Collboni's administration, Albert Batlle; Badalona's Socialist Councilor, Fernando Carrera; the Provincial Councilor Victoria Alsina; the ERC deputy and former Minister of Social Rights, Carles Campuzano; and the Popular Party senator Juan Milián, along with the PP deputy in Congress, Nacho Martín Blanco, and near former Ciutadans deputy Anna Grau. Also present were the director of the CEO, Joan Rodríguez Teruel; the president of Fomento, Josep Sánchez Llibre; the president of the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, Josep Santacreu; the former regional minister Santi Vila; and the writer Vicenç Villatoro.