"Existential anxiety and sabotage attempts": The survival battle of the Jews of Spain

The mass and dramatic infiltration into the city of Ceuta has caused shockwaves throughout the Spanish political system and beyond, bringing to the surface difficult questions regarding national security, international relations, and the sensitive situation of the local Jewish community.

In an exclusive interview with Maariv, Juan Caldes Rodriguez, a prominent Jewish leader in Spain, sheds light on the events and openly defines them as a "calculated and coordinated invasion by Morocco," driven by political pressures and a campaign of extortion against Madrid. According to him, while extremist elements on the left and right rushed to spread antisemitic conspiracy theories accusing Israel of involvement in the crisis, the public in Spain understands well that this is a serious failure of Pedro Sanchez's government. Caldes emphasized that despite diplomatic disagreements and criticism of the Spanish government's international conduct toward Israel, the strong ties between Spain and Israel are based on deep shared values and a stubborn fight against terrorism.

On the other hand, Jose Bentolila, president of the Jewish community in Ceuta, told Maariv about the sense of relief that the escalation events occurred during the summer vacation, when Jewish institutions were closed. However, there is deep concern within the community about the recurrence of similar cases in the future, and therefore a renewed security assessment is being carried out. Bentolila also addressed the storm over the tweets of Minister Danny Danon, and noted that Israel's ambassador to Spain, Dana Erlich, clarified unequivocally that this was his personal position only and that Israel stands by Spain's sovereignty. According to him, in other areas of the country, there is close and positive cooperation between the local authorities and the Jewish community.

Meanwhile, conversations with members of Israeli groups in Madrid reveal a complex and multi-dimensional situation. While some members report a sense of complete security and that the mayors and the local community openly support Israel, others point to a disturbing rise in antisemitic incidents, which often disguise themselves as legitimate political criticism. According to them, exceptional events such as attempts at sabotage in Jewish institutions or offensive statements on social networks illustrate the fear of an erosion in the sense of personal security.

However, it should be emphasized that most physical attacks remain relatively rare, and many residents emphasize that despite the tense media sentiment, daily life in Madrid continues to proceed on its course, while maintaining a clear separation between the citizens and broad political disputes.