Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
© IE Online Media Services Pvt Ltd
Tags:
Journalism of Courage
Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares summoned the Israeli charge d’affaires in Madrid on Friday over recent comments made by the office of Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in the latest episode of worsening diplomatic ties between the two countries over the ongoing war in Gaza.
Albares summoned Dana Erlich — currently Israel’s top diplomat in Madrid — to “categorically reject the false and slanderous statements from the Israeli prime minister’s office”, Spain’s foreign ministry said in a statement.
In response to Spain’s announcement of an arms embargo and restrictions on Israel-bound arms and fuel deliveries, Netanyahu’s office had accused Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez of making “genocidal threats”.
Sanchez had justified the measures by saying Spain lacked nuclear bombs, aircraft carriers, or large oil reserves to exert pressure on Israel to stop what he qualified as “genocide”.
Israel has strongly denied that its actions in Gaza amount to genocide, and it is fighting a case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague that accuses it of genocide.
The US State Department also expressed concern over Madrid’s limitations on ships and aircraft delivering weapons or military-grade jet fuel to Israel, as well as entry bans on two Israeli ministers.
Spain had recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and also banned two far-right Israeli ministers – National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.
Ben Gvir, who leads the Otzma Yehudit party, and Smotrich, the chair of Religious Zionism, have also been banned by the Netherlands, Slovenia and Belgium.
Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram
