You know the Spanish designer and architect as Assi Ezer's partner, who thrilled everyone at their photographed wedding and who fit into the Tel Aviv swamp quite quickly. But recently, Albert Escola, a Christian who immigrated to Israel a decade ago because of love, has become a full-fledged Zionist, and an Israeli who is recruited for international advocacy in Spanish-speaking countries.
He is in contact with Israeli advocacy organizations that provide him with materials, and shoots and uploads videos in Spanish that receive millions of views (including a chilling video that went viral in which he explains the meaning of the word "bereavement," which exists only in Hebrew).
He is interviewed by foreign newspapers and networks while advocating and defending Israel, and this weekend he plans to fly to Spain for a tour of Jewish communities, where he will hold a press conference where he will meet with the mayor of Barcelona, present the Israeli side of the campaign and fight for our narrative.
"Lots of positive responses." Albert Escola / Photo: Ran Yehezkel
"I've been living in Israel for ten years, this is my country where I chose to plant roots," he says, "and I realized that we had to explain to the world what is happening now, because there are many false things on the Internet. I decided to take the right things and put them on my platforms."
Your bereavement video has gone very viral. What responses did you get about it?
"Lots of positive responses. Part of the world doesn't know what that word is – bereavement – and it was important for me to explain to them why they don't know what it is. Obviously, there are less good reactions."
You fly to Spain to explain what you're doing here. Do you believe you will be able to make an impact?
"The Jewish audience in Barcelona explained to me that Madrid has much more pro-Israel than Barcelona, so it's important for me to go explain to the Catalans, where I was born, what we're fighting for here. I'm going to do the best advocacy I can, through someone who was born there and lives here, and I'm sure they'll listen.
"I think people understand. Even in my arguments with them, they say: But look what's happening in Gaza, we have to stop, why are you doing this? And I tell them we're there because of what happened on October 7, and explain what we faced that day."
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Albert Escola (@albertescola)
How are you going through this difficult time?
"The past month has been difficult and very challenging for everyone. None of us are used to these situations, and everything is more stressful. War brings with it a lot of pressure, and it's hard. Our daughter is a year and a half old, and Lassie and I want to give her the feeling that she is protected. We really try to be 'cool' with her, even if there is an alarm - to take her without pressure to the safe room. Just be with her."
After the fall of Sagi Golan in the battles for Be'eri, his partner Omer Ohana went out to fight and succeeded in changing the law, and the Knesset approved an amendment recognizing the spouses of fallen LGBT soldiers as IDF widowers.
"I'm a really positive person, and I'm trying to look for the good, and from all this terrible war, at least the happy change in the law came out. Obviously, both Assi and I would prefer this change to happen earlier, but apparently these things are progressing slowly. If we give our lives to the state, the state should give us back what straight people get."
Wrong? We'll fix it! If you find a mistake in the article, please share with us