While the US and Israel fight to free the world from the ayatollahs’ tyranny, the Spanish government insists on “sticking it” to President Trump. Under the leadership of far-left Pedro Sanchez, Spain is competing with Ireland to be the European nation most hostile to Israel and the US.
Sanchez refused to allow the Americans to use his territory’s army bases for the operation against Iran, and tensions between the countries have reached a high point – particularly in light of the fact that Spain is not living up to its military commitments as a member of NATO. President Trump is already considering imposing trade restrictions on the country in response to the Spanish recalcitrance.
As a US strategic partner, and itself subject to Spanish harassment, Israel can supply Trump with the means with which to properly punish them – shutting down the illegal Spanish consulate in Jerusalem.
Spain is one of eight countries operating diplomatic missions to the Palestinian Authority from within Israel’s capital. In violation of international law, as detailed in the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations, these foreign consulates deliberately refrain from requesting permission from the State of Israel to operate within its territory. This constitutes an ostentatious, ideological refusal to recognize Israeli sovereignty in its own capital.
In May 2024, Spain “rewarded” the Palestinians for the October 7 massacre and upgraded the status of the Palestinian Authority to “the State of Palestine.” Then-Foreign Minister Israel Katz threatened to close the consulate, but it continues to operate as the official mission to “Palestine” uninterrupted. In their audacity, the Spanish complained of “Israeli provocations” and noted that their presence in the city predates the Jewish state.
Since then, Spanish hostility has only escalated. Together with Ireland, Spain is pressuring the European Union to cancel its trade agreement with Israel, leveling false accusations of “genocide.” Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz even called for the liberation of Palestine “from the river to the sea” – that is, for the elimination of the State of Israel.
Notably, Spain became the first European country to join the blood libel at The Hague in June 2024. Ministers in the Sánchez government expressed support for the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants against Israeli leaders, the country imposes a military embargo, and boycotts products from Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem, and the Golan Heights. Now, Spain has gone even further and recalled its ambassador from Tel Aviv.
Beyond the bellicose declarations, Madrid is leading an active policy of political and security strangulation. The Sánchez government is leveraging its weight in Brussels to attempt and impose economic and political sanctions, designed to isolate Israel internationally. Operationally, the sweeping ban on docking vessels that carry security equipment in its territory is not merely symbolic, but a direct attempt by Spain to sabotage the IDF’s supply chain in the midst of a multi-front campaign.
More gravely, the anti-Israeli delegitimization campaign conducted by senior members of the Spanish government, which includes comparisons of Israel’s defensive operations to the darkest regimes in history, bolsters the rising antisemitism in Europe, and paves the way for physical harm to Jewish communities and Israelis residing in the country.
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu vowed a severe response to European countries that recognize a Palestinian state. The latest wave of recognition occurred in September 2025, when the UK, France and Canada granted Palestinians statehood status. No concrete steps have been taken since then. Foreign Ministry officials continue to hedge and counsel the government to be cautious and wait. At the National Security Committee chaired by MK Tzvika Foghel, Ministry representatives continued to claim that “the issue is under consideration”; however, the time for discussions is over. The government must act without hesitation, especially when Trump is looking for ways to sanction the administration in Madrid.
The six illegal consulates in Jerusalem are an open wound in the body of our sovereignty. For decades we swallowed their absurd existence in order to “preserve the status quo”. In recent years, however, the status quo has been radically changed by the states operating those consulates themselves when they recognized a Palestinian state. We have done nothing.
The standard warning of “diplomatic ricochets” is less relevant when the US is aligned with us on this matter, and we now have a historic opportunity to start freeing Jerusalem from hostile foreign influence. Not acting now sends a clear message: the Foreign Ministry is not interested in fortifying sovereignty in Jerusalem if the price is being “undiplomatic”.
(First appeared in Hebrew in Makor Rishon).
