Spain has decided to permanently expel its ambassador to Israel due to his opposition to the attacks on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, further straining the already tense diplomatic relations between the two nations.
The official announcement came from the Spanish government via the Official Gazette, which stated that the role of ambassador would be discontinued, and the embassy in Tel Aviv would now be managed by a chargé d’affaires for an indefinite period.
Back in September of last year, Madrid had recalled its ambassador after facing criticism from Israel for its decision to prohibit the use of Spanish ports and airspace by vessels transporting weapons to Israel. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar had labeled that action as anti-Semitic.
On Wednesday, when asked if Spain was cooperating with the United States, President Trump replied, “No, it’s not. I don’t think it’s cooperating at all.”
Regarding Spain’s stance, Trump expressed disapproval, noting that, “They have done very bad things to NATO.” He claimed that Spain has relied on NATO protection without contributing fairly, a trend that he said has persisted for many years. Although he described the Spanish people as “great,” he criticized their leadership as “not very good.”
Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina also voiced his concerns, expressing confusion over Spain’s move to permanently recall the ambassador. He stated, “Spain is a NATO member, and the United States and Israel are conducting joint operations against the Iranian regime, which openly calls for the destruction of the Jewish state.”
His comments echoed a broader sentiment that, while Spain’s actions might not directly align with supporting Israel and U.S. actions against Iranian aggression, it’s crucial to maintain a stance against regimes that threaten democratic values.
The situation reflects a significant downturn in Spain-Israel relations, particularly following Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which were initiated in response to the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. In retaliation for Spain’s recognition of a Palestinian state, Israel had also scaled back its diplomatic presence in Spain last May, leaving its embassy in the hands of a chargé d’affaires.
