|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
An effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was packed with 14 kilograms (31 pounds) of gunpowder and blown up before a cheering crowd during an Easter Sunday festival in southern Spain.
The blast took place in El Burgo, a town near Malaga, during a decades-old Easter tradition known as the “Burning of Judas.” Organizers ignited the 23-foot figure depicting Netanyahu as part of the ceremony. Mayor María Dolores Narvaez said the event had previously featured effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Israel responded by formally reprimanding Spain’s top diplomat. The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the incident as an act of “appalling antisemitic hatred.” It pointed to footage of onlookers applauding as the effigy exploded. The ministry placed direct responsibility on the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, arguing that sustained rhetoric against Israel had helped create an environment in which such acts had become normalized.
The appalling antisemitic hatred on display here is a direct result of @sanchezcastejon government’s systemic incitement.
And even now, the Spanish government remains silent.
The Spanish chargé d’affaires was summoned for a reprimand. pic.twitter.com/2Bguhs7Ce8— Israel Foreign Ministry (@IsraelMFA) April 11, 2026
Deepening Rift Between Spain and Israel On Full Display
The incident came against a backdrop of strained relations between Jerusalem and Madrid, driven by Spain’s increasingly hostile stance toward Israel since the October 7, 2023 Hamas massacre.
Israel has begun responding with concrete measures. It recently removed Spain from a ceasefire coordination mechanism based in Kiryat Gat, where Spanish representatives had maintained a permanent presence. In a video statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that countries pursuing a “diplomatic war” against Israel would face immediate consequences.
Spain last month withdrew its ambassador from Israel, while Israel took a similar step in 2024 after Spain recognized a Palestinian state, recalling its ambassador and scaling back its presence in Madrid.
While Spanish officials claim a commitment to combating antisemitism, actions such as this tell a far more revealing story. If Spain is serious about confronting antisemitism, it cannot allow such spectacles to unfold unchecked. Spain’s conduct has sent a message that Israeli leaders describe as diplomatic warfare — one in which actions speak louder than words.
Further Reading:
- From Inquisition to Eurovision: Spain’s Long History of Antisemitism and the Politicization of Hate
- CAM Calls for Spanish PM Sánchez to Be Investigated for Incitement to Genocide Over Apparent Nuclear Threat to Israel
- Spain Escalates Anti-Israel Agenda, With Nixed Defense Deal and Severance of Barcelona-Tel Aviv Ties
- ‘Pure Antisemitism’: Website Blacklisting Jewish Businesses in Spain’s Catalonia Region Taken Down After Complaints
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
