MADRID — A political commentator has alleged that Spain’s far-right Vox party is influenced by a prominent pro-Israel businessman and that its hard-line stance on the recent migrant surge into Ceuta serves broader Zionist priorities rather than a comprehensive restriction of immigration.
José Niño posted a lengthy thread on the social media platform X late Saturday detailing his claims. He argued that Vox’s vocal criticism of the mass crossings from Morocco into the Spanish North African enclave should not be taken at face value. Tens of thousands of migrants entered Ceuta in late July and early August, overwhelming local authorities. Vox leader Santiago Abascal and the party have described the influx as an “invasion,” called for border closures, immediate returns, and military mobilization, and accused the government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of failing to protect the country’s borders.
Niño asserted that Vox is effectively backed by David Hatchwell Altaras, a Madrid-based Jewish businessman and former president of the Jewish Community of Madrid. According to Niño, this connection ensures the party ultimately advances Israeli strategic interests rather than fully addressing demographic and immigration concerns for native Spaniards. He described Hatchwell’s long-term efforts as systematically shaping Spain’s right-wing politics, with Vox representing a successful case of what he termed “Zio-populism” — nationalist rhetoric aligned with Israeli priorities.
In the thread, Niño pointed to Hatchwell’s public defense of Vox in 2019. At the time, the party faced accusations of antisemitism. Hatchwell, co-founder of the pro-Israel advocacy group ACOM, posted on the organization’s website that Vox is not an antisemitic party and praised its “unwavering support for Israel.” He specifically vouched for leaders including Abascal, Iván Espinosa de los Monteros, and Rocío Monasterio.
Niño also noted Vox’s repeated engagement with Israel. Abascal has visited the country on multiple occasions, including meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and has publicly criticized the Sánchez government’s recognition of a Palestinian state while expressing strong support for Israel’s security policies. ACOM, under Hatchwell’s involvement, has pursued numerous legal challenges against the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement in Spanish courts, achieving a series of victories that include a significant Supreme Court ruling.
The commentator claimed such alignments tend to emphasize restrictions on migrants from countries viewed as hostile to Israel while showing greater tolerance for inflows from other regions. He argued that figures like Hatchwell remain comfortable with multiculturalism so long as it does not threaten their core interests. Niño linked Hatchwell to Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso of the center-right People’s Party, who has also taken publicly pro-Israel positions. He contrasted Spain’s historically limited ties to Israel — formal diplomatic relations began only in 1986 — with what he described as a more recent shift driven in part by such advocacy work, set against the current Socialist-led government’s more critical stance toward Israel.
Niño concluded that Vox’s focus on the Morocco migrant crisis amounts to political theater, with its backers ensuring that genuine immigration restriction remains secondary to loyalty on Middle East policy. He directed readers to a longer analysis published last year on The Occidental Observer that expands on the same thesis.
Hatchwell is a businessman with interests in real estate, technology, and investment platforms that include ties to Israeli ventures. He has served in leadership roles within Spain’s Jewish community and co-founded ACOM as a public diplomacy and legal advocacy organization. Public records and reporting confirm his 2019 endorsement of Vox against antisemitism charges and ACOM’s legal activity against critics of Israeli policy. Spanish media have also noted connections between his organizations and certain politicians who later joined Vox.
Vox has long maintained a firm position against irregular migration, particularly from North Africa, and has cultivated one of the stronger pro-Israel stances among Europe’s right-wing parties. Independent reporting has documented the party’s leadership visits to Israel and public statements of support. However, claims that Hatchwell directly funds or exercises operational control over Vox lack corroboration in mainstream sources. The assertions of deliberate co-optation originate primarily from Niño’s commentary and the associated analysis on a website known for advancing white-nationalist and conspiratorial interpretations of Jewish influence.
The migrant surge into Ceuta has intensified political debate in Spain ahead of future national elections. Vox continues to campaign on strict border enforcement and mass deportations, while the Sánchez government has pursued regularization programs for undocumented migrants already in the country and maintained distinct positions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Niño’s critique reflects a strain of opinion within certain nationalist circles that views alliances between European right-wing parties and Israel as a compromise of core demographic priorities.
