Diplomatic crisis between Spain and Israel

Following a meeting of the EU Council in Brussels, where Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez requested that leaders of member states suspend the EU-Israel Association Agreement, the Israeli Embassy in Madrid issued a written statement claiming that this was "morally indefensible."

The Israeli Embassy stated that due to this stance, Spain would be "placed on the wrong side of history," and alleged that "the position adopted by the Spanish government places Spain at the most extreme and increasingly isolated end of the European position regarding the Middle East."  

Responding to this statement shortly thereafter, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Chargé d'Affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Madrid, Dan Poraz, to the Ministry due to his "unacceptable statement regarding the Spanish government."

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares had requested from his EU counterparts at the EU Foreign Ministers' Meeting on June 23 that the Israel-EU Association Agreement be immediately suspended, that an arms embargo be implemented, and that individual sanctions be imposed on those responsible in Israel.

Israel is currently represented at the level of Chargé d'Affaires in Madrid, as it recalled its ambassador following Spain's official recognition of the State of Palestine in May 2024.

News Source: AA