Alyssa Mcmurtry
17 October 2023•Update: 18 October 2023
OVIEDO, Spain
Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares on Tuesday said he told the Israeli ambassador in Madrid that he is “profoundly upset” by her “unfriendly gesture” of accusing some of the government’s ministers of being aligned with the Palestinian group Hamas.
On Monday evening, the Israeli embassy in Spain released a statement “energetically condemning” the statements of “some members of the Spanish government,” whom it accused of having “chosen to align themselves with this ISIS-like terrorism.”
Several Spanish ministers, primarily from the far-left of the coalition government, have used words like “cruelty” or “massacre” to describe Israel’s siege and bombardment of the Gaza Strip.
Acting Social Rights Minister Ione Belarra even accused Israel of planning a genocide.
“Not only are these statements totally immoral, they also put Spain’s Jewish community at risk… of antisemitic attacks,” the Israeli embassy said, urging Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to “unequivocally condemn these shameful comments.”
Spain’s Foreign Ministry responded firmly in writing.
“The Spanish government strongly rejects the misinformation spread in the Israeli statement about some of its members and will not accept unfounded insinuations about them,” said the statement.
At the same time, the ministry reminded Israel that Spain is a “full democracy,” which means politicians can express their political beliefs freely.
In a press conference on Tuesday, Albares emphasized that only two people are authorized to represent Spain’s official foreign policy — the prime minister and the foreign affairs minister.
Albares also highlighted that Spain’s government “strongly condemns” the Hamas attacks, calls for the immediate release of captives, and recognizes Israel’s right to defend itself within the boundaries of international law.
On Monday, Sanchez also called for the “protection of civilizations” and for international aid to reach those trapped in the Gaza Strip.
Despite the public diplomatic row with Israel, Albares said it was a “specific incident” and that the matter “has been settled.”
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Social Rights Minister Belarra said in an interview that “anyone with a position of power… anyone who can go out on the streets must raise their voice so Israel will put a stop to this planned genocide.”
