Reports of attacks on Jewish graves in the Les Corts cemetery in Barcelona
Benjamin Netanyahu's government claims the desecration is "the result of Pedro Sánchez's anti-Israel campaign"
BarcelonaThe Jewish Community of Barcelona (CJB) reported an act of vandalism against several graves in the Jewish section of the Les Corts cemetery in the city. In a statement, the organization explained that all Jewish areas in the city's cemeteries—Les Corts, Collserola, and Sant Andreu—will remain closed until Monday, January 26, following the recommendation of Barcelona Cemeteries, to prevent further desecration, gather information, and "accurately assess the situation and make appropriate decisions." The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday afternoon. Images published by the CJB show a number of vandalized graves. The disarray is widespread: marble headstones are broken, displaced, or lying on top of other graves or on the ground. In some cases, they are cracked, and in others, broken into several pieces, clearly indicating a deliberate act of destruction.
The Barcelona City Council on Sunday strongly condemned the act of vandalism against several graves. "These are intolerable acts that violate the dignity of the deceased, the respect due to spaces of mourning, and peaceful coexistence in the city," the municipal government stated in a press release. The mayor of Barcelona, Jaume Collboni, assured that they are working to identify those responsible for the attack. "Hate has no place in a pluralistic and respectful Barcelona. All our support to the Jewish community of the city," he affirmed on his social media accounts.
Israel demands "immediate" measures
The closure of Jewish sections in cemeteries this weekend has outraged the leader of the People's Party (PP) in Barcelona, Daniel Sirera, who has called on the city government to "reopen them immediately" with "permanent surveillance," whether by security guards, community officers, or security cameras. "Closing them doesn't protect dignity. Dignity is protected by guaranteeing security and an institutional presence," he argued. The Together for Change coalition also condemned the attack and suggested pursuing legal action: "An intolerable attack, consistent with a hate crime and an expression of antisemitism that has no place in our society," stated councilor Jordi Martí Galbis. Vox has also called for the "immediate reopening" of the cemeteries with security and criticized the mayor: "Collboni is incapable of guaranteeing the safety of either the living or the dead," they added.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the vandalism in a message to X, asserting that "this despicable act" is "the result of the anti-Israel campaign by the [Pedro] Sánchez government." Also via its embassy's account in Spain, the Israeli government demanded that the authorities take "immediate" measures to resolve the situation.
The municipal government assures that, from the outset, Cementiris de Barcelona activated the corresponding internal protocols, that technical teams assessed the area and the damage—which affects decorative elements on several graves—and that the necessary actions for their repair and restoration have begun "with the utmost speed and respect."
The Jewish Community of Barcelona also explained that it is working jointly with the authorities to "define the appropriate measures" for repairing the damage as quickly as possible "in accordance with tradition and Halakha [Jewish law]." At the same time, the statement continues, Cementiris de Barcelona is collaborating with the authorities to facilitate the investigation by compiling and reviewing available information and existing security measures.
Possible hate crime complaint
The municipal government also explains that it is already working in coordination with the Jewish Community of Barcelona (CJB) and the rabbinate to agree on the necessary restoration and recovery measures for the space. "If appropriate, the council will consider filing a complaint for these acts of vandalism, together with the Jewish Community, with the Hate Crimes and Discrimination Unit of the Public Prosecutor's Office," the City Council reports.
The Jewish Community of Barcelona and the Barcelona City Council have jointly provided cemetery services to Jewish citizens since 1976. Last year, Cementerios de Barcelona (Barcelona Cemeteries) carried out a comprehensive project in the Jewish sections, which included the construction of 56 new graves, as well as urban improvements. €700,000 was invested.