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Barcelona Mayor Ada Colau
Photo:
Michel Euler / AP
The Spanish Mediterranean metropolis of Barcelona is suspending contacts with the state of Israel – and with it the twinning with Tel Aviv.
The decision will apply until the Israeli authorities stop "systematically violating the human rights of the Palestinian population," announced Mayor Ada Colau.
This was reported by the newspapers "La Vanguardia" and "El País" as well as the news agency Europa Press.
The left-wing politician is reacting to a petition by pro-Palestinian groups.
The partnership has existed since 1998.
Israel's Foreign Ministry has described the mayor's suspension of contacts as an "unfortunate decision that is completely at odds with the position of the majority of Barcelona's citizens and their representatives on the city council".
The decision gives tailwind to extremists, terrorist organizations and anti-Semitism.
Colau accused Israel of "decades of systematic violations of human rights" and "illegal occupation and settlement of Palestinian territories".
The security situation in Israel and the Palestinian territories is currently very tense.
Recently, five members of the Islamist Hamas were killed in a raid by the Israeli military in the West Bank.
At the end of January, a Palestinian shot dead six Israelis and a Ukrainian in East Jerusalem.
The day before, ten Palestinians had been killed in a raid by the Israeli army.
In the West Bank, the most people died last year since the United Nations began counting the deaths in 2005.
Israel has been governed by a right-wing government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since December.
His coalition includes religious fundamentalists and nationalists, among others.
svs/dpa
