The diplomatic crisis between Spain and Israel worsens

MadridLast week was Pedro Sánchez's announcement to toughen measures against Benjamin Netanyahu's government and this is the endorsement of the president of the Spanish government in The pro-Palestinian protests that halted the final stage of the Vuelta as well as the decision of withdraw from Eurovision if Israel participatesThese are the latest episodes that have further inflamed the deep diplomatic crisis between Spain and Israel, which has been simmering for almost two years and has seen multiple high-voltage clashes over the Israeli attacks in Gaza. The diplomatic tension was evident this Tuesday with the decision by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs to once again summon the Israeli chargé d'affaires in Spain, Dana Erlich, just days after the initial summons. Sources at the ministry explained the new summons to protest the "unacceptable words" of Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, who has once again accused Sánchez of being "anti-Semitic." In an interview with Cope radio, Erlich reaffirmed that Jews are "discriminated against" and "demonized" in Spain, where she believes there is a campaign of "hate" orchestrated by the Spanish government.

Although parties to the left of the PSOE, such as Sumar and Podemos, are pressuring Sánchez to be more forceful and break off diplomatic relations with Israel, the Socialists are resisting and are committed to maintaining the relationship even if it becomes increasingly tense. Spanish government spokesperson Pilar Alegría argued in a press conference following Tuesday's cabinet meeting that diplomacy is "fundamental" to achieving the two-state solution Spain is committed to. However, it has been a week since the Spanish government temporarily recalled the Spanish ambassador to Israel—a diplomatic move known as a "recall"—in response to the Netanyahu government's attacks on members of the executive, and Alegría has maintained that there is still no date for her return. Another criticism to which Alegría responded is that the Spanish government has postponed for another week the decree to embargo arms from Israel, the most forceful measure announced last Monday by Sánchez.

The Spanish government spokesperson justified this by saying that "things must be done properly" because it is a "complexly worded" law. "The intention is to introduce it as soon as possible, next week," said Alegría, who guaranteed that "there is no doubt" regarding the Spanish government's "determination" on the matter. Sources at Sumar demanded that it not be delayed any further, and Esquerra Unida proposed that, as a tool of pressure, the ministers of the minority coalition refuse to participate in the next meeting of the Council of Ministers if this measure is not approved. Podemos, for its part, accused Sánchez of "electioneering" and "hypocrisy" with this "phantom" decree. On the same day, Spain also called on Israel, along with fifteen other countries, to respect the flotilla sailing to Gaza with humanitarian aid.

A permanent conflict

The PSOE's rhetoric against Israel has become increasingly harsh, to the point that in recent days Sánchez has praised the pro-Palestinian protests at the Vuelta a España and called for the country to be banned from international competitions. Members of the Spanish government are now openly speaking of "genocide." despite criticism from PP leaders, whom Alegría has warned that their "silence" and "equidistance" will "haunt" them for the rest of their political careers. In fact, he has accused them of "bad faith." However, in the final months of 2023, shortly after the start of the invasion of Gaza following Hamas's attacks on Israel on October 7, Sánchez already had several clashes with Netanyahu's government. "I have real doubts that Israel is complying with international humanitarian law," he said at the end of November. He stated this just days after angering Netanyahu for opening the door to unilateral recognition of the Palestinian state. on a trip to the Middle East. Israel recalled its ambassador to Spain for consultations, who ended up returning in early 2024.

The recognition of Palestine by Spain, at the end of May last year, represented a new peak in the diplomatic conflict which this week focuses on the boycott of Israel in international competitions. Alegría has insisted that "sport cannot be an island independent of what happens in the real world, even more so when human rights are being trampled on." The Spanish government spokesperson and Minister of Sports has called on international organizations and federations to adopt the same position they held with Russia, which was expelled by the invasion of Ukraine, without clarifying whether, as RTVE has decided with Eurovision, Spain is willing to withdraw from competitions such as the World Cup6. For its part, Israel has responded with the boycott of events such as the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

The Government doesn't get involved

The Catalan government maintains its position of demanding an end to the genocide in Gaza, but avoids specifying whether it plans to take concrete measures against Israel, as the Spanish government has done. In a press conference following the executive council meeting, government spokesperson Sílvia Paneque asserted that it is "legitimate" for the executive to consider this "reflection on ties with the Israeli government," but did not specify whether they will review any contracts the government may have. "It should not distract us from putting energy into demanding an end to this genocide," Paneque argued. "The first thing the government should do is stand by the voices that demand and cry out against the genocide. But not get lost in side debates," she added. In this regard, she did not comment on collaborations with Israeli universities or on Israel's boycott of the MWC. Mireia Esteve reports.

As for the Catalan opposition, according to reports Roger PalósERC spokesperson Ester Capella argued that "the international community cannot remain paralyzed," and therefore called on governments to "act" with the "necessary measures to try to halt what is happening in Palestine." Along these lines, Comuns' David Cid announced a series of appearances by councilors, with proposals in the chamber to impose a total veto on Israel. Meanwhile, CUP representative Laure Vega demanded that the government and the state "cut all relations."