Spain Withdraws Ambassador to Israel Amidst Deepening Diplomatic Rift

Spain has officially withdrawn its ambassador to Israel, Ana María Salomón Pérez, escalating a diplomatic standoff rooted in disagreements over the war in Gaza and Israel’s actions in Iran. The move, formalized on Wednesday, marks a further deterioration in relations between Madrid and Jerusalem, following the ambassador’s initial recall in September [1].

Background to the Withdrawal

The decision to permanently relieve Salomón Pérez of her duties was enacted on Tuesday at the proposal of Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and signed into law by King Felipe VI [3]. The initial recall in September stemmed from Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza, which he characterized as a “genocide” [2]. These operations followed the October 7, 2023 attacks by Hamas.

Escalating Tensions

Israel responded to Sánchez’s remarks by accusing him of antisemitism and barring two of his ministers from entering the country, further straining the already tense relationship [2]. Israel had previously withdrawn its own ambassador to Madrid in May 2024, in protest of Spain’s decision to recognize Palestinian statehood [2]. Both embassies will now be led by a chargé d’affaires [1].

Opposition to US-Israel Actions

Sánchez has also voiced strong opposition to the recent joint United States-Israel military campaign against Iran, launched on February 28 [1]. He is among a small number of European leaders to publicly denounce the action as “unjustifiable” [1].

Spain’s Stance on Gaza and Iran

The Spanish government has consistently been a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza and the recent war on Iran. This withdrawal of the ambassador underscores Spain’s firm stance against both conflicts [4].