HE Barcelona’s town hall He believes he can continue. cooperation projects it happens Loop And West Bank despite breaking off relations with Israelcountry controlling it as an occupying power Palestinian Territory. This was expressed by the director of Global Justice and Cooperation, david listar, in response to information released this week by EL PERIÓDICO of the Prensa Ibérica group, which states that the break with the Jewish State will further complicate the job Barcelona has done for over two decades to help the Palestinian people. ” Cooperation with Gaza Despite the blockades that Israel has been subjected to for years, it is not over. We don’t believe they will impose any extra restrictions as there is little room for the situation to get worse,” says Llistar. West Bank Things have been a little easier so far, but the Metropolitan is not waiting here either. new restrictions after separation. We do not think that Israel will close its doors to us. block people who share”, adds Llistar.
The director of cooperation, under the authority of the mayor Ada Colau, “ global justice And human rights” have been the main vectors guiding Barcelona’s external action. “And at the same time, actors violating global justicebe Iranian theocratic, Turkey or Spanish government when it outsources border management,” says the municipal official. After that ColombiaSigning a peace deal with the guerrillas in 2016 Palestinian Territory They have recently received the most funding from the Barcelona collaboration. However, due to the restrictions imposed by Israel in recent years, it has become very difficult to work there. Two years ago the Government declared “terrorist organizations” to six Palestinian NGOs Serving as a counterpart to its Spanish and international counterparts that Barcelona has worked with on the following projects indirect cooperation. At the same time, City Council technicians Years without entering Gaza. The last time they tried unsuccessfully was in 2018.
Barriers to NGOs
“In recent years, Criminalizing NGOs Protection of human rights cooperating in Palestine”, confirms Llistar. “And the organizations that work there are those who are fed up with the blockade, promoting the rupture. lack of democratic guarantees they encounter it while working on the ground,” he adds, emphasizing that the measure comes after a participatory signature collection process. Despite the obstacles, a few projects are still alive. Focusing on Gaza development of the coastlineinside traffic Management and in systems rainwater collection The work must be done via videoconferencing and occasional visits to Barcelona by Palestinian technicians.
There are active direct cooperation projects in the West Bank. Nablus And BelenWorking to revitalize the commercial life in the city center with better mobility and traffic management, Spanish Cooperation
Twinning with Isfahan
Colau, one of the critics of the City Council’s policy towards the Jewish State, double standard others, such as the one, suspended pairing with Tel Aviv (and St. Petersburg) Isfahanone of the cultural capitals IranianAnother country known for human rights violations. “We can do it perfectly with Isfahan as well. We didn’t do it because neither Iran nor anyone here asked us to do it,” says Llistar.