World Jewish News

President Rivlin meets Spain's Jewish leaders in Madrid

“We must not surrender to anti-Semitism, we must fight it. We must not be ashamed of or hide our identity,’’ said Israeli President Reuven Rivlin as he met leaders of the Jewish community at the Ibn Gavriol School in Madrid.

Rivlin is on a 4-day State visit to Spain at the invitation of King Felipe VI.

'’I am pleased that the Spanish government is taking steps in legislation and enforcement against this ugly phenomenon. We will fight these challenges together,”he added.

“We love and respect every Jew, wherever they are, but you will be welcome always should you choose to come to your home in the State of Israel,” Rivlin also said.

‘’We must not be ashamed of the connection between the State of Israel and the Jewish people. I know that there are concerns, and fears of terrorism against Jews, and of anti-Semitism which poses as criticism against Israel. We will fight these challenges together.”

He also stressed that the campaign to boycott and impose sanctions on Israel was, “an expression of anti-Semitism”.

According to the Spanish Interior Minister's report on anti-Semitism, there has been a rise of hundreds of percent in manifestations of anti-Semitism in Spain in recent years.

President Rivlin said said that Israel today operates an extensive network to combat anti-Semitism disguised as the delegitimization of Israel, to fight hatred of Jews disguised as a criticism of Israeli government policy. ‘’These bodies are at your disposal, they are also here for you,”he said.

The Israeli President took part in a special event hosted by the community at the Jewish school of the Spanish capital. Along with the President, also addressing the event was David Htachwell, president of the Jewish community of Madrid and Isaac Querub, president of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Spain (FCJE).

The President unveiled a plaque to be affixed to the entrance of the school, commemorating his State Visit to Spain and marking 100 years since the reestablishment of the Jewish community in the country since the Expulsion of 1492.

“The community here today is a magnificent community, with tens of thousands of members of all ages. Jewish life on the Iberian Peninsula, which was cut off more than five hundred years ago, is now full of life, and this is a great joy. This is a great victory for history and the spirit of the Jewish people,” Rivlin emphasized. Isaac Querub described to the President experiences of the Jewish community living in Spain, and said that it was a difficult time with a sense that, “United Spain is under threat, as well as the fabric of coexistence, and social and economic stability in the country.”

“We need Israel and Israel can always rely on our support,” he said.

EJP