A prominent Christian organization has spoken out against an Easter ritual in southern Spain that involved burning a massive figure depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, labeling the ceremony as antisemitic.
The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem issued strong criticism of the event that took place in El Burgo, a town in southern Spain, where participants burned a 23-foot tall representation of Netanyahu during their Easter observance.
ICEJ President Dr. Jürgen Bühler explained that this “Burning of Judas” tradition has roots in medieval customs that historically promoted antisemitic stereotypes, depicting Jewish people as greedy, responsible for Christ’s death, or inherently wicked. Bühler argued that these outdated practices should be eliminated from modern religious observances and prohibited by the Catholic Church, consistent with changes made during the Vatican II Council.
According to the organization, comparable events have occurred in other nations including Mexico, Poland, and Greece in recent years. They referenced a particularly controversial incident in Pruchnik, Poland, where participants created a Judas figure dressed as an Orthodox Jew, which sparked widespread criticism for its resemblance to Nazi-era antisemitic propaganda.
The Christian Embassy connected this Spanish incident to recent political tensions, noting Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s accusations that Israel is committing genocide and “exterminating” Palestinians. They also pointed to Spain’s diplomatic actions, including support for arms embargoes, punitive measures against Israel, and Spain’s formal recognition of Palestinian statehood in 2024.
“The International Christian Embassy in Jerusalem denounces this outrageous antisemitic display carried out during the most sacred celebration in the Christian calendar, that of Easter,” their official statement declared. The group demanded that Spain’s Catholic Church provide “a clear and unequivocal condemnation and apology.”
The organization also called on Vatican leadership to reassess what they characterized as biased criticism of Israel and to work toward preventing similar incidents worldwide.
“Instead of condemning Israel and the Jews, Good Friday could be more meaningfully used to remember those Christians who ‘share in Christ’s sufferings,’” their statement continued, highlighting persecution of Christians in Nigeria, Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The ICEJ emphasized that Easter observances “must never be used as an occasion to disparage Jews,” citing the New Testament passage: “Salvation is from the Jews.”
