Spanish Transport Minister Faces Backlash Over 'Israeli Brats' Remark on Ejected French Jewish Teens

Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente faced international backlash after referring to a group of French Jewish teenagers removed from a Vueling flight as "Israeli brats" in a now-deleted social media post. The teenagers were ejected from the flight departing Valencia due to alleged disruptive behavior, including tampering with emergency equipment and interrupting safety demonstrations, according to Vueling and Spanish police. However, Jewish organizations such as Yad Vashem condemned Puente's remarks as antisemitic, emphasizing that the youths were French citizens and criticizing the conflation of their Jewish identity with Israeli nationality. Eyewitnesses and the group’s organizers disputed the airline's account, reporting calm behavior and alleging discrimination based on religion, including claims that the camp participants were targeted after singing in Hebrew. The incident has sparked official investigations by both Spanish and French authorities, amid growing concerns about rising antisemitism in Europe. The controversy is further intensified by Spain's political climate, with the government having previously criticized Israeli actions, adding a layer of diplomatic sensitivity to the episode.