In recent years, a troubling trend has intensified across the European arena, one of systematic delegitimization directed at the State of Israel.
At the forefront of this trend stands the government of Spain, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, which has adopted a hostile, one-sided, and inflammatory stance toward Israel and its soldiers. Rather than serving as a balanced and responsible voice in Europe, Spain has chosen to descend into extreme rhetoric more characteristic of radical fringes than of a democratic Western state.
This is not a matter of legitimate criticism, and criticism is an integral part of any democratic discourse. Instead, it involves severe, unfounded, and dangerous accusations. Labeling Israeli soldiers as murderers and portraying Israel as an apartheid state is not only a distortion of reality but also a dangerous return to historical patterns of dehumanization. This language is designed to condemn and incite.
The matter becomes even more serious when examining the resounding silence of the Spanish government in the face of terrorist atrocities. Since the events of October 7, 2023, in which Hamas terrorists carried out a brutal massacre of innocent civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, no clear, unequivocal condemnation has been heard from Madrid.
The acts of murder, rape, and abduction committed by Hamas operatives expose a moral duplicity, as the Sánchez government has chosen to avoid taking the clear stance expected of any enlightened nation.
This gap between unrestrained accusations against Israel and near total silence in the face of murderous terrorism reveals not only hypocrisy but also a profound moral failure. A country that seeks to champion human rights cannot choose selectively when to condemn terrorism and when to look the other way.
This conduct reached another moral low in a shocking incident in Spain in which an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was burned. This was a distinctly antisemitic display that evokes dark memories from Europe’s past. The fact that the Spanish government did not immediately and unequivocally condemn the incident reflects a failure of values.
Following instructions from Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, the chargé d’affaires of the Spanish Embassy in Israel was summoned for a formal reprimand by Foreign Ministry Director General Eden Bar-Tal. During the meeting, it was made clear that this incident is a direct result of systematic incitement by the Spanish government.
When political leadership uses extreme and accusatory language, it is no surprise that public discourse deteriorates into open displays of hatred. On one Spanish television channel, presenters went further by distorting their faces and making obscene gestures toward Israel and its leader while Netanyahu’s image appeared in the background.
Spain’s government acts against Israel
The Sánchez government is also acting against Israel on the international stage, attempting to promote sanctions within the European Union. In doing so, it undermines the principles of Western cooperation and aligns itself with radical states that do not share the values of democracy and freedom. It is no coincidence that Spain is mentioned alongside countries such as Venezuela and Iran, with which Spain is even seeking to renew diplomatic relations.
The absurdity reaches its peak when Spain condemns Israel for its efforts to counter the threat posed by Iran, which consistently works toward acquiring nuclear weapons. In doing so, Spain threatens not only Israel but also regional and global stability. Such weapons could fall into the hands of terrorist organizations or be used as leverage against European nations themselves. In this reality, Israel’s struggle is not only justified; it is essential.
Spain’s position, therefore, is not merely anti-Israel. It crosses into antisemitism. Spain prefers to focus on condemning the only democratic state in the Middle East, effectively aligning itself with radical leftist narratives that prioritize ideology over facts.
The decision by Netanyahu and Sa’ar to prevent Spain from participating in the Civil Military Coordination Center in Kiryat Gat is a necessary response. A country that demonstrates such overt hostility cannot serve as a mediator or constructive partner in sensitive diplomatic processes. Trust is a fundamental condition for any cooperation, and Spain, through its conduct, has severely undermined it.
Ultimately, the question is not only about Israel-Spain relations but about the path of Europe as a whole. Will the continent choose to uphold the values of truth, responsibility, and morality, or will it continue to be drawn after extreme voices that are blind to reality?
Sánchez’s Spain presents a clear warning sign. The question is whether the Spanish people will reject his path and consign his government to the pages of history.
The writer is the CEO of Radios 100FM, Honorary Consul and Deputy Dean of the Consular Diplomatic Corps, President of the Israel Amateur Radio Club, and a former Israel Defense Forces Radio monitor and NBC News television correspondent.
Source:
www.jpost.com
