Spain says it won’t be intimidated, recalls ambassador to Israel

MADRID: Spain said Monday it “strongly rejects the false and slanderous accusations of antisemitism” made by Israel after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced nine measures, including arms embargo on Israel, aimed at stopping “the genocide in Gaza”.

Later in the day, Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel amid worsening relations between the two countries.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares took the decision “in the face of the slanderous accusations against Spain and the unacceptable measures against two members of our country’s government”, a foreign ministry source said.

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Earlier, the foreign ministry also condemned Israel for barring two far-left government ministers from entering the country, saying Spain “would not be intimidated in its defence of peace, international law and human rights”.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said on X that Sanchez’s criticism of the war was an attempt “to divert attention from serious corruption scandals through a continuous anti-Israel and antisemitic campaign”.

Saar also announced entry bans on Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego, both members of the far-left Sumar group that is the junior partner of Sanchez’s coalition government.

Rego is of Palestinian descent on her father’s side and spent part of her early childhood in the occupied West Bank.

GAZA GENOCIDE

Earlier in the day, Sanchez announced nine measures aimed at stopping “the genocide in Gaza”, including an arms embargo on Israel and a ban on vessels carrying fuel for the Israeli military from using Spanish ports.

The announcement marks the latest escalation of Spain’s outspoken criticism of the Israeli war in Gaza. It broke with European allies last year by recognising a Palestinian state.

Read more: US warns other countries against recognising Palestinian state

In a televised address, Sanchez said the measures aim to “stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue its perpetrators and support the Palestinian population”.

He said his left-wing government would approve a decree to “consolidate in law” a ban on military equipment sales or purchases with Israel, a measure it had applied since the start of the conflict.

Boats carrying fuel destined for the Israeli military will be barred from Spanish ports, and Spain will act to reduce the transport of military equipment to Israel by air, Sanchez said.

“All those people participating directly in the genocide, the violation of human rights and war crimes in the Gaza Strip” will be banned from entering Spanish territory, he added.

Spain will also ban the importation of products from “illegal settlements” in the Palestinian territories with the aim of stopping “the forced displacement of the Palestinian population” and supporting the two-state solution, Sanchez said.

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Consular services for Spanish citizens residing in illegal Israeli settlements will be limited “to the legally obligatory minimum assistance”, he said.

Sanchez also announced new collaboration projects in agriculture, food security and medical aid to support the Palestinian Authority and additional humanitarian funds for Palestinians.