Spain summons Israeli envoy over remarks Netanyahu’s office | World News
Spanish Foreign Miner Jose Manuel Albares summoned the Israeli charge d’affaires in Madrid on Friday over recent comments made the office of Israel’s Prime Miner 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 miner’s office”, Spain’s foreign minry said in a statement.
Israeli Prime Miner Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to reporters (Photo/AP)
Spain announces arms embargo on Israel
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 Miner Pedro Sanchez of making “genocidal threats”.
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Sanchez had justified the measures 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 miners.
Spain bans two Israeli miners
Spain had recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv and also banned two far-right Israeli miners – National Security Miner Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Miner Bezalel Smotrich from entering the country.Story continues below this ad
Ben Gvir, who leads the Otzma Yehudit party, and Smotrich, the chair of Religious Zionism, have also been banned the Netherlands, Slovenia and Belgium.
