MADRID – Spain approved on Tuesday eight of the nine measures against Israel announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, holding back for now on the most contentious: a permanent arms embargo.
The cabinet signed off on an entry ban targeting far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. Both are already facing sanctions and travel bans in the Netherlands, the UK, and Canada.
Ministers also approved restrictions preventing Israeli-bound ships and aircraft carrying fuel or defence materials from transiting through Spanish ports and airspace.
“Spain is the country in the world that is doing the most for Palestine, for Gazan civilians, and for peace and human rights in the Middle East,” Albares told reporters after Tuesday’s meeting.
Meanwhile, the permanent halt to imports and exports of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to Israel remains under discussion.
Albares said “the drafting process” is ongoing with other ministries and would be presented “in a timely manner.”
For Madrid, cutting ties with Israel’s arms industry has proven more complicated than expected. Technical hurdles in enforcing a full embargo, combined with the Spanish defence sector’s reliance on Israeli technology, have delayed its legal implementation, particularly on imports.
Should it be approved, however, the law would formalise the government’s earlier pledge to cut ties with Israel’s defence sector, first announced by Sánchez at the start of the Israeli offensive, following the Hamas attacks on 7 October.
In response to Monday’s measures, Tel Aviv also accused Sánchez’s government of pursuing a “hostile” and “relentless anti-Israel and anti-Semitic campaign.”
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also “personally sanctioned” and banned Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz and Youth Minister Sira Rego from entering the country, as Spain’s foreign minister summoned its ambassador in Tel Aviv on Monday.
For now, Albares confirmed “there is no date set” for the ambassador’s return, while ruling out “breaking diplomatic relations” with Israel.
(mm)
