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A poster with a slogan against the State of Israel, placed on the stairs of the University of Havana, sparked a wave of criticism on social media, where many Cubans expressed their disapproval of the message and deemed it an offense to the Christian community.
The image, shared on Facebook by users such as Liomara Enríquez, shows a canvas where the phrase “Damn you, State of Israel” can be read, expressed on June 2, 2010 by former president Hugo Chávez (1954-2013).
It occurred as a reaction to Israel's attack on the so-called Freedom Flotilla, made up of six vessels with personnel from 37 countries that were carrying humanitarian aid to Palestine, resulting in nine deaths and around thirty injuries.
In his post, Enríquez quoted the biblical passage Numbers 24:9 —"Blessed is he who blesses you, O Israel, and cursed is he who curses you"— and asked for prayers "for mercy for Cuba."
"It seems that what we are going through is not enough. May God have mercy," she wrote.
Other users reacted similarly, interpreting the event as a provocation and a sign of the country's spiritual and moral decline.
"A poster cursing Israel in the middle of the University of Havana is a rude and disrespectful act," commented Abdiel Morfa, who recalled that in Cuba there are "thousands of Christians who love and pray for Israel."
Others, like David Espinosa, described the gesture as “ugly, sad, and unpleasant.” “Cursing has never changed the world; it has only filled it with more hatred,” he wrote on his Facebook profile.
The reactions also included questioning the double standard of the Cuban government. "It's ironic and incoherent that in a country where you can't express yourself against your government, there is the audacity to do so against the State of Israel," noted Yoanny Pérez.
Some comments, like the one from E.A.L., were harsher: “They should change it to read: ‘Damn you, communist and filthy Cuban state.’ Stop putting up nonsense and focus on your own country.”
Believers and citizens see in this gesture not only a lack of religious respect but also another indication of the politicization of public spaces in Cuba.
The placement of the sign coincided with the celebration of a political event early Thursday morning at the Anti-Imperialist Tribune in Havana, in support of the Palestinian cause, for which state buses were mobilized despite the severe fuel shortage.
On May 10, the Jewish Community of Cuba accused the director of the National Center for Sexual Education (Cenesex) Mariela Castro Espín of being anti-Semitic and inciting hate among Cubans following her recent statements on state television.
In a lengthy statement shared on Facebook, Cuban Jews labeled the "comments from the deputy" as "insulting" during her appearance on the television program Mesa Redonda Informativa.
Castro Espín denied the existence of the Jewish people in that space and claimed that they victimized themselves to take over territory.
"There is no Jewish people, there is a Jewish religion. There really were many European people of the Jewish faith that they exploited, victimizing themselves in an exaggerated manner," stated the daughter of former leader Raúl Castro.
In his speech, he stated that those people "used biblical myths" to occupy territories in Palestine.
He also stated that this "occupation" was reinforced by "an imperialism" led by the United Kingdom, and later by the United States, "to avoid losing geopolitical control" of the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
By November 2023, the Cuban Hebrew Community had also rejected the claims made by the director of Cenesex, who stated that more violence should be used to stop Israel.
“Imperialism can no longer be confronted with stones, words, or through diplomatic means,” said Mariela Castro during a discussion with Palestinian diplomats at the University of Havana.
The Hebrew community deemed such statements as a complete lack of understanding and distortion of the moment and history, in addition to containing "a deep-seated antisemitism."
Similarly, the Cuban Hebrew Community also openly expressed its rejection of the Havana government's stance regarding the attack by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on October 8, 2023, which triggered Israel's response in the Gaza Strip.
In November 2023, the young Jewish Jonathan Rosado Carrillo carried the Cuban flag during Israel's army training, as part of the preparation against the terrorism of the organization Hamas.
Frequently asked questions about the controversy at the University of Havana and the tensions between Cuba and Israel
What was the message of the poster at the University of Havana that sparked controversy?
The poster at the University of Havana read “Cursed be the State of Israel”, a phrase attributed to former Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez in 2010. This message sparked criticism on social media for being deemed offensive to the Christian and Jewish communities in Cuba.
How has the Cuban community reacted to Mariela Castro's statements about Israel?
The Hebrew community in Cuba accused Mariela Castro of anti-Semitism following her comments on television, where she denied the existence of the Jewish people and suggested they victimized themselves to occupy land. Her statements were deemed offensive and sparked widespread rejection among Cuban Jews, who called for respectful dialogue and peace.
What do Cubans think about the politicization of public spaces in Cuba?
Many Cubans view the politicization of public spaces, such as the case of the poster at the University of Havana, as a sign of the country's spiritual and moral decay. It is criticized that expression against Israel is permitted, but not against the Cuban government, which is seen as a double standard of the regime. This reflects discontent with the lack of freedom of expression in the country.
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