In Spain, it is extremely rare to hear open criticism from members of the Jewish community regarding Israel’s military actions in the Gaza Strip. Even among the most prominent figures and organizations, this topic remains on the periphery of discussions. The head of the country’s Federation of Jewish Communities, David Obadía, emphasizes that his responsibility is to protect the interests of Spanish Jews, not to comment on decisions made by Israeli authorities. According to him, matters related to Israeli policy should remain under the jurisdiction of the official bodies of that state.
Founded in the early 1980s, the federation unites around 14 Jewish communities across the country and maintains ties with seven other organizations. The main centers of Jewish life are located in Madrid, Barcelona, and Malaga. Obadía estimates that the Jewish population of Spain reaches 70,000–80,000 people. The organization is officially recognized by the state and receives direct funding under a cooperation agreement established back in 1992. The federation’s structure also includes the Supreme Rabbinical Council.
David Obadía, who took over as head of the federation in the spring of last year, was born in Israel but grew up in Melilla. He previously worked in real estate and even served as a municipal councilor in Torremolinos (Málaga) for the Ciudadanos party. According to him, each community keeps its own records, allowing for a fairly accurate count of Jews in different cities. Among the federation’s priorities are the protection of cultural heritage, maintenance of synagogues and cemeteries, and ensuring access to kosher products.
Recently, the organization has paid particular attention to the rise in antisemitic attitudes. According to Obadía, this is currently the main concern for Spanish Jews amid the ongoing conflict. Together with the Movement Against Intolerance, the federation established a special observatory back in 2009 to record incidents of antisemitism. In 2024, according to their data, the number of such incidents rose more than threefold compared to the previous year, reaching nearly two hundred cases. The federation insists on the need to increase funding for the national program to combat antisemitism.
Recently, the federation issued a strong statement condemning acts of violence by pro-Palestinian activists during the final stage of the Vuelta a España cycling race. The statement emphasized that such actions contribute to the spread of hatred against Jews. However, the text does not mention the situation in Gaza, even though international human rights organizations and the UN commission have recently accused Israel of committing genocide.
As early as last year, the UN representative on the Palestinian issue spoke of a high likelihood of genocide in Gaza. The federation, for its part, did not support such accusations and, in one social media post, even criticized Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s remarks, in which he called Israel a “genocidal state.” According to the federation, such statements unfairly generalize an entire country. Despite differences with the government, Obadiah notes that the dialogue between the federation and the authorities remains functional and constructive.
