Andorra's Jewish Community Accepts Apology Over Carnival Star of David Mask

Andorra's Jewish community has accepted an apology from Encamp's Festa Commission over the use of a Star of David mask on a caricature figure during the parish's Carnival hanging event, declaring the matter closed.

Isaac Benchluch, president of the Associació Cultural Israelita de les Valls d’Andorra (ACIV), stated on Thursday that the letter from the youth organizers adequately addressed concerns. It acknowledged that the symbol's use caused "comprehensible anger" and unintended interpretations leading to confusion and distress, while stressing no intent to target any religious community, people, or group. The commission reiterated respect for all religions, cultural diversity, and Andorra's values of peace and coexistence, rejecting any form of hatred or violence. It contextualized the skit as traditional satire critiquing the Israel-Palestine conflict and Benjamin Netanyahu, noting that images were quickly removed from social media and websites to avoid out-of-context views. The letter also offered dialogue and a potential meeting to strengthen mutual respect.

Benchluch emphasized that the ACIV never doubted the lack of malicious intent, though the symbol—representing all Jews—crossed a line by conflating political critique with the entire community. He noted that personalizing the figure as Netanyahu would have avoided backlash, as political satire fits Carnival traditions. The community has begun translating the letter into Hebrew and other languages to share with international Jewish groups, including in Israel and France, to counter boycott calls and clarify the context.

Earlier reactions included strong condemnation from Israel's Foreign Ministry, which described the event as a "grotesque spectacle" normalizing hatred and echoing dark historical chapters, urging Andorran authorities to act. The US Consulate in Barcelona expressed solidarity with Andorra's Jewish community, thanking organizers for their initial apology but warning that such acts risk normalizing antisemitism and eroding religious freedom. It called for zero tolerance toward hate expressions.

Benchluch hopes the resolution will prevent future incidents and reinforce inter-community ties in Andorra.