The Diplomat
The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) and the Jewish Community of Madrid celebrated yesterday the approval in the Assembly of Madrid of a Bill to fight anti-Semitism.
The Plenary of the Assembly of Madrid yesterday approved a Legislative Initiative Bill before the Congress of Deputies, submitted by the PP, to amend the current regulations on subsidies and public sector contracts, as well as the organic law regulating the right of association, in order to prevent aid to entities that engage in discriminatory practices based on birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance, including anti-Semitism.
“The FCJE and the Jewish Community of Madrid, official representatives of Spanish Jews and Madrid Jews respectively, are pleased with the approval in the Assembly of Madrid, of the Proposition of Law of legislative initiative before the Congress of Deputies to modify the General Law of Subsidies,” the two organizations pointed out.
The Bill, they stressed, “includes the definition of anti-Semitism developed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), an institution that brings together governments and experts to strengthen, encourage and promote education, memory and research on the Holocaust around the world!
“Today a historic step has been taken for Judaism and for the respect of basic rights in Spain, at a time when racism and anti-Semitism threaten the very structures of our society,” declared Maxo Benalal, secretary general of the FCJE, present at the debate.
“This is a historic moment,” said Estrella Bengio, president of the Jewish Community of Madrid, also present at the debate. “We welcome this initiative that will undoubtedly contribute to the fight and eradication of anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia that encourage hatred and intolerance, and violate the universality of Human Rights.”
