A 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."

Reading a news article in ARA about Barcelona, ​​I saw the propaganda of the newsletter to which you can subscribe, which displays a panot as its logo. The panot suddenly made me think of him.

Halfway through Colau's second term, parties have begun to make moves with the 2023 mayoral elections in mind. The plenary session this Friday had two unknowns: whether the former French Prime Minister, Manuel Valls, would make some reference to his departure - which di not happen - and how parties would readjust to ERC leader Ernest Maragall's announcement they would begin a new stage of greater confrontation with Colau and Collboni's team. In addition, the discrepancies between the coalition partners are becoming increasingly evident. The change in tone of the Republicans has been clear in a proposal that sought the first reprobation against the mayoral team. Specifically, three socialist councillors (Jaume Collboni, Montserrat Ballarín and Xavier Marcé) were criticised over the way they managed the implementation of the municipal surcharge to the tourist tax, originally an ERC proposal but which they and all the opposition now consider should be postponed to give the tourist sector time to get back on its feet. However, Barcelona city council kept the additional 75-cent-a-night tax for visitors starting on June 1st, as it believes it will not change tourists' plans.