An Israeli graffiti artist invited by the Jewish community in Barcelona to counter antisemitic messages in public spaces was violently attacked after painting pro-Israel imagery over anti-Israel slogans. The artwork was quickly defaced, and the couple faced verbal abuse and threats. At one point, a migrant shattered a glass bottle over the head of the photographer accompanying the artist.
Dudi Shoval, 34, from Ashdod, has been a muralist since the age of 15. Last week, he and his wife Hodaya traveled to Barcelona at the invitation of a local Jewish organization to help combat antisemitism in public spaces. However, the experience quickly turned hostile. What was supposed to be an artistic mission turned into a confrontation with street-level antisemitism.
Upon arrival, Shoval was shocked by the amount of anti-Israel graffiti covering the city’s streets. “There were countless images of Bibi drenched in blood, depicted as a war criminal, and the usual slogans like ‘genocide in Gaza’ and other horrific messages,” he said.
