Spain formally asks for the cancellation of the EU-Israel "Partnership of the Century"
In what has been described as the boldest European move in decades, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced that his government will formally submit a proposal to the European Union next Tuesday demanding the termination of the association agreement with Israel since 2000, against the backdrop of "flagrant violations of international law" committed by the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
The Principle of Accountability Above Partnership
Speaking at a rally in Andalusia, Sánchez stressed that the moral and legal standard must take precedence over commercial interests, saying: "A government that violates international law can in no way remain a partner of the European Union."
He made clear that international prosecutions of Netanyahu for war crimes could not go unpunished.
Air Closure and Military Blockade
The Spanish escalation did not stop at diplomatic demands; Madrid took strict measures on the ground, including closing the airspace: preventing any aircraft involved in the current military conflicts from crossing over Spanish territory and preventing ships and planes carrying weapons to Israel from using Spanish ports and airports.
It also included a reduction in diplomatic representation, as a continuation of the decision to dismiss the Spanish ambassador in Tel Aviv, which means that relations will continue at the level of "chargé d'affaires" only.
Sharp reactions and international pressure
In contrast, the diplomatic corridors witnessed angry reactions, with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar calling the Spanish decisions "anti-Semitic."
The Spanish moves also come amid pressure exerted by the United States on NATO members to dissuade them from taking positions critical of military operations in the region, which Sánchez ignored and stuck to his political rhetoric opposing what he described as a "reckless and illegal conflict."
With this move, Spain is putting the European bloc to a real test of its principles, amid international anticipation of the outcome of next Tuesday's session, which may redraw the map of relations between Brussels and Tel Aviv.
Explosion of a puppet ignites tension
On the 12th of this month, Israel reprimanded the top Spanish diplomatic official in Tel Aviv for what it considered "anti-Semitism" following the bombing of an euphemism representing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Spanish city a few days ago during an annual celebration.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement on the X platform that the act "reflects the appalling anti-Semitic hatred that is manifesting here, and is a direct result of the systematic incitement of the government of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez."
In response to Israel's "rebuke," a Spanish Foreign Ministry source said that "the Spanish government is committed to combating anti-Semitism and any form of hatred or discrimination," rejecting "any malicious allegation to the contrary."