Israel summoned Spanish and Belgian ambassadors in Tel Aviv for a “harsh rebuke”. This is not the first diplomatic spat between Madrid and Tel Aviv since October 7.
Spanish Foreign Minister, Jose Manuel Albares, condemned Israel’s accusations against the Spanish and Belgian prime ministers on Friday as “false”, “out of place” and “unacceptable”, Anadolu Agency reported.
“There will be a response,” warned Albares, hours later Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said the two European leaders were “giving support to terrorism”.
Cohen said Israel will also summon both nations’ ambassadors in Tel Aviv for a “harsh rebuke”.
The Israeli Prime Minister’s Office also claimed that Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, and Belgian Prime Minister, Alexander De Croo, did “not place total responsibility on Hamas for the crimes against humanity.”
During a visit to the Rafah border crossing in Egypt on Friday, Spain and Belgium called for a permanent ceasefire. The move infuriated Israel.https://t.co/J3fPfP3NDt pic.twitter.com/Wqa6oxKtwB
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) November 24, 2023
Amid the escalating diplomatic conflict, Albares said Israel’s false accusations were “especially serious” given the fact that Spain is representing the European Union as the current President of the EU Council, a position that will be handed over to Belgium on January 1, 2024.
Speaking to the media, Albares highlighted the “unbearable number of Palestinian victims, including children”.
Sanchez visited Israel, Palestine, and Egypt over the past two days, in an effort to lay the groundwork for peace talks.
“Violence will only lead to more violence. We need to replace violence with hope and peace,” he said on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border crossing on Friday.
However, his peace tour ended in a diplomatic blow-up with Israel.
“Spaniards and the international community will always find Spain on the team of those who build peace,” said Albares.
The South African government intends to petition the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice to declare Israel an apartheid state.https://t.co/mWeuEnkkF2 pic.twitter.com/I70ikfauJi
— The Palestine Chronicle (@PalestineChron) November 24, 2023
This is not the first diplomatic spat between Madrid and Tel Aviv since October 7.
In October, the Israeli Embassy in Madrid accused some Spanish ministers of being aligned with “ISIS-like terrorism” due to their criticism of the Israeli siege and bombardment of Gaza.
Spain’s Foreign Ministry defended the ministers at the time, saying Israel was misrepresenting their views and insisting that leaders can share their opinions freely in Spain.
Speaking from Egypt on Friday, Sanchez also announced that, while Spain will advocate at the EU level for the recognition of the State of Palestine, he is open to a unilateral recognition if the other nations do not agree.
(MEMO, PC)
This clearly shows that Israel has got European governmental leaders by the throat. Even if the Spanish government has mildly protested against Israeli flagrant condemnation of Spanish FM, the Spanish government appears helpless. What it could do is stop the flow of Spanish armaments to Israel right now. But it will not be able to do so as they have to obey the ‘Boss’ of European ‘satellite’ governments, that is, the US: Europe is simply not independent.
100% accurate.