Spain escalates diplomatically and relieves its ambassador to Israel of her duties

The Spanish government officially announced the relief of its ambassador to Israel, Ana Salomon Perez, from her duties, as published in the official gazette in Madrid on Wednesday. This step reflects a new deterioration in bilateral relations, as the decision means lowering the level of Spanish diplomatic representation in Tel Aviv to the level of chargé d'affaires only.

Sources reported that Ambassador Perez had left the occupied territories last September, when Madrid recalled her for consultations in response to statements by Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar. Sa'ar had accused the Spanish government of 'anti-Semitism,' which Madrid considered an unacceptable transgression of diplomatic norms.

This measure is one in a series of diplomatic crises that began in May 2024, when Israel withdrew its former ambassador from Madrid in protest of Spain's recognition of the Palestinian state. Since then, relations between the two sides have been in a state of stagnation and continuous political bickering against the backdrop of Israeli policies in the region.

Media reports indicated that the resumption of full diplomatic relations would require Spain to appoint a new ambassador, which would require the approval of the Israeli authorities, something that seems unlikely at present. The Spanish embassy is currently managed by a diplomatic staff headed by a chargé d'affaires to handle essential affairs only without full representation.

This step comes amid a firm stance taken by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez against Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip. Sánchez has on several occasions described what is happening in the Strip as 'genocide,' calling on the international community to act to stop the blatant violations of international humanitarian law.

In a related field development, major Spanish cities such as Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia witnessed massive demonstrations in which thousands participated, condemning the Israeli aggression. Demonstrators raised slogans demanding a complete قطع of relations with the occupation and the imposition of economic and military sanctions to stop the ongoing massacres against civilians in Gaza and Lebanon.

Additional tension also emerged after the Spanish government refused to allow the United States to use military bases on its territory to support military operations against Iran. Sánchez affirmed that his country would not be a party to a war that violates the national sovereignty of states and leads to the destabilization of the entire Middle East region.

For her part, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Díaz, called for taking tougher stances to confront the war waged by Washington and Tel Aviv in the region. Díaz considered that international silence regarding what is happening in Gaza and Iran gives the occupation a green light to continue its crimes without legal or moral deterrence.

Statistics from the Gaza Strip indicate a catastrophic situation, where the Israeli genocide has left more than 72,000 martyrs and about 172,000 injured since October 2023. The destruction has also affected about 90% of the Strip's infrastructure, making the lives of 2.4 million Palestinians there a daily hell lacking the most basic necessities for survival.

Observers believe that the Spanish position represents an exception in the European continent, as Madrid adopts a legal discourse that focuses on UN authority. This position has received widespread support from the Spanish people, who oppose involvement in foreign wars and demand respect for human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories.

Regionally, the repercussions of the war that began last February extended to Lebanon, Iraq, and the Gulf states, further complicating the diplomatic scene. Madrid fears that blind alignment with the occupation's policies will lead to a comprehensive regional explosion whose catastrophic consequences for global security cannot be controlled.

In the absence of any immediate official statement from Tel Aviv regarding the decision to relieve the ambassador, analysts expect Israel to respond with similar measures that will further isolate Madrid diplomatically within the Western camp. However, the Sánchez government seems determined to move forward with its policy, which it describes as balanced and consistent with democratic values.

This decision to lower diplomatic representation is not merely an administrative measure, but a strong political message expressing Madrid's exasperation with Israeli actions. All eyes remain on Brussels to see if other European countries will follow Spain's lead in taking concrete steps against the occupation government.

In conclusion, the Palestinian issue remains the primary driver of these major diplomatic shifts in Spanish foreign policy. With the continued fall of victims in Gaza, popular and political pressure on Western governments is expected to increase to fundamentally and comprehensively review their relations with Israel.

This decision effectively lowers diplomatic relations between the two countries to the level of chargé d'affaires, representing another step in the ongoing diplomatic escalation.