The Israeli Foreign Ministry on Thursday condemned a carnival in the independent principality of Andorra that displayed and burned an effigy that represented the State of Israel.
The ministry described the display as “grotesque,” saying it serves the “normalization of hatred and a dangerous echo of the darkest chapters of Jewish history. We expect clear condemnation from the Andorran authorities and concrete action to ensure that such incitement has no place in Andorra.”
We are outraged by the events reported at Andorra’s carnival, where an effigy bearing the colours of Israel and a Star of David was publicly put on mock trial, hanged, shot and burned in the presence of local officials.
— European Jewish Congress (@eurojewcong) February 17, 2026
Turning a festive tradition into the symbolic execution of… pic.twitter.com/QikdQDJVxj
Andorra is the sixth-smallest state in Europe, bordered by France and Spain.
It holds an annual Encamp Carnival event funded and authorized by the government, and traditionally includes political satires. The carnival stages a mock trial in which an effigy is found guilty, hung and burned in front of a crowd.
On Monday, this year’s blue and white effigy had both hands tied and its head marked with the Star of David.
It was hung, shot and burned in front of the festival’s attendees, Ynet reported.
The Jewish community in Andorra of 160 members was dismayed, saying that it was the first time that the carnival incorporated unequivocally antisemitic messages.
“This is a ceremony they hold every year, a kind of carnival where they mock many things. This time, they took a doll and dressed it in the colors of the Israeli flag—with a Star of David on its face. They hung the doll on a rope, put it on trial, and sentenced it to death, which was carried out by shooting and burning the doll. This is completely unacceptable,” Ynet cited Esther Pujol, one of the Jews who live in Andorra, as saying.
“I called the speaker of Parliament of Andorra, and he was shocked and told me it was unacceptable. What makes it worse is that the mayor and members of the city council participated in this ceremony,” she continued.
The U.S. embassy in Madrid reacted to the scenes in Andorra on Friday, tweeting in Spanish that it stands with the local Jewish community.
“Acts of this kind risk normalizing antisemitism and undermine religious freedom. We appreciate the apology from the organizers and call for zero tolerance toward hate. The United States stands firmly against antisemitism and hatred in all its forms, and reaffirms its commitment to protecting Jewish life around the world,” the embassy tweeted.
Nos solidarizamos con la comunidad judía de Andorra tras el preocupante maltrato de símbolos judíos durante el Carnaval. Actos de este tipo corren el riesgo de normalizar el antisemitismo y socavan la libertad religiosa. Agradecemos la disculpa de los organizadores e instamos a…
— U.S. Embassy Madrid 🇺🇸🇪🇸 (@USembassyMadrid) February 20, 2026
U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner retweeted the Madrid embassy’s message, reiterating his country’s firm stand with Andorra’s Jewish community.
