Spain / 09-10-2012
Antisemitic slogans on the walls of Camp Nou
Barcelona – on Thursday morning, antisemitic slogans were seen on the walls of the Camp Nou, as follows: "No Jews in this house. Jews...terror state!". No organization assumed responsibility for these slogans, which ass more political tension to a traditional event that is also politically charged, due to the dispute surrounding the presence of the Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalid, at the game against Madrid.
The Barcelona football club granted – pursuant to the request of a former Israeli minister – tickets for Gilad Shalit, a fan of the club, and three escorts. Shalit, who had wanted to serve in a combat unit, was captured by the Hamas organization in 2006 and was in captivity for five years until released in 2011, in exchange for the release of 477 Palestinian prisoners.
This decision raised opposition by pro-Palestinian groups in Barcelona and thus the club quickly responded and distributed – in order to prevent conflicts – an official notice saying that the club "had always been a meeting place and has always wished to support the promotion of peace and understanding in the Middle East". On Sunday, Shalit will be at the Camp Nou.
