Spain closes its airspace to planes participating in the war
The State calls the Israeli diplomat in Spain for consultations due to the prohibition of the Latin Patriarch
MadridThe Spanish government's rejection of the use of the American bases of Rota and Morón for operations related to the war in Iran –remain active for other activities– is now joined by the closure of airspace to aircraft participating in the conflict in the Middle East. With this decision, the State has taken another step in its "no to war". "Everyone knows Spain's position. The use of the bases is not authorized and, of course, the use of Spanish airspace for actions related to the war in Iran is not authorized," stated the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, in a statement to the media on Monday morning.
The objective of the decision is "to do nothing that could foster an escalation in this war," said the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, in an interview with RAC1, and he reiterated his call for "de-escalation" and the return of "diplomacy". Spain, however, does provide "support for the navigation" of certain American bombers from the Seville Air Traffic Control Center, run by the public company Enaire. However, these aircraft must pass through the Strait of Gibraltar.
The Minister of Defense also expressed her concern about the ramifications of the conflict in Lebanon, where an Indonesian soldier died on Sunday, and another on Monday in a new attack, deployed as part of a United Nations peacekeeping operation. "The situation is of great concern," acknowledged Robles, who said that the Indonesian soldiers are under Spanish tutelage. "The United Nations must demand an end to this very serious situation. We are talking about a peacekeeping mission and it must always be respected in all cases," reiterated the minister. For the moment, the ministry will not make any decisions regarding Spanish soldiers in the area pending what the UN decides.
Controversy in Jerusalem
Albares also explained that Israel's business representative has been summoned to protest the Israeli prohibition of the Latin Patriarch celebrating Palm Sunday mass in Jerusalem. "We defend freedom of worship," the minister assured.