Half of Catalans favor breaking ties with Israel and Russia, survey shows

Half of Catalans are in favor of breaking commercial ties with Israel during the invasion of the Gaza Strip, and 48% back doing it with Russia during the war in Ukraine, according to a preliminary survey by the Catalan International Institute for Peace (ICIP) published on Monday.

The survey on 'coexistence and security in Catalonia' will be fully published in October and shows that 19% of the surveyed oppose breaking ties with Israel, and 17% with Russia.

When asked about participation in international competitions, such as the Olympics and Eurovision, almost half of residents in Catalonia (48%) back banning Israel (47%) and Russia (47%) from competing, while 20% are in favor of them taking part.

The survey was performed between June 23 and July 23 among 2,763 people aged 18 years old residing in Catalonia. The study was concluded before the massive protests in Spain's La Vuelta cycling competition, which forced the halt of the last stage of the championship, and Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez's call to expel Israel from international competitions.

Kristian Herbolzheimer, head of ICIP, said that "Catalans censor with the same forcefulness the military operations by Israel and Russia."

Their answers "show an empathetic society with others' suffering, regardless of their attacker," he added.

Only 22% of the surveyed backed not taking part in the conflict in Gaza. They favor keeping a "normal relationship" with Israel, while 26% have a similar opinion on Russia.

ICIP states that one third of the Catalan society did not position themselves, or answered the survey.

Regarding sending arms and troops to Russia and Israel's opponents, a 33% back sending weapons to Ukraine, and 7% to Hamas. Meanwhile, 26% of people oppose sending arms to Ukraine, and 68% against Hamas receiving weapons from Spain.