Pedro Sanchez has emerged as one of the more critical European leaders of Israel’s actions in the region [Getty/file photo]
Spain will ask the European Union to end its association agreement with Israel over violations of international law, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday.
Spain has criticised Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the war in the Gaza Strip and Israel’s attacks on neighbouring Lebanon. Netanyahu, in turn, has accused Spain of “hypocrisy and hostility”.
“On Tuesday, Spain’s government will present a proposal to the EU that the European Union break off its association agreement with Israel”, Sanchez told a political rally in Andalusia.
Sanchez says that Israel “violates international law” and therefore “cannot be a partner of the European Union … it’s as simple as that”.
The June 2000 association accord between the EU and Israel includes a clause requiring respect for human rights.
Spain and Ireland first called for a review of the accord in 2024 amid concerns over tactics used in the war on Gaza in response to the Hamas attacks on Israel in October 2023.
Spain’s recognition of a Palestinian state the same year infuriated Israel, and Sanchez has stepped up his criticism of Netanyahu’s government since.
Spain, Ireland and Slovenia sent a letter to the European Commission on Friday calling for the the accord with Israel to be discussed at the next meeting of EU foreign ministers.
Netanyahu this month accused Spain of waging a “hostile diplomatic campaign” against Tel Aviv and barred Madrid from taking part in the work of a US-led centre created to help stabilise post-war Gaza.
“Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us,” Netanyahu said at the time.
“I am not prepared to tolerate this hypocrisy and hostility. I will not allow any country to conduct a diplomatic war against us without facing an immediate price.”
