Spain poised to ban weapons sales to Israel, blacklist Netanyahu – report

Madrid reportedly preparing to implement Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’ promise to end all arms deals with Israel, considering blacklisting Israel’s premier and other senior ministers.

By World Israel News Staff

The Spanish government is poised to impose an arms embargo on Israel and is mulling blacklisting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior government officials, according to a report published over the weekend.

On Saturday, the left-wing Spanish newspaper El País reported that the Spanish government is planning to give final approval next Tuesday to a package of sanctions targeting Israel, including a sweeping embargo on arms deals.

If adopted, the plan would bar the transfer of Spanish military equipment or technology to Israel, either directly or indirectly, either from the Spanish military or private companies.

The sanctions would also prohibit the importing of Israeli-made arms, ammunition and riot control gear, as well as the use of Israeli technical assistance.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has committed his government to end all arms deals with Israel, including imports and exports.

However, earlier this year, local media outlets revealed that Spain’s interior ministry had signed a procurement contract with Israel’s IMI Systems for the purchase of 9-mm ammunition, earmarked for the Guardia Civil police force.

The revelation led to criticism of the government, including from within the ruling coalition.

Madrid is also considering imposing other sanctions on Israel, as well as blacklisting Prime Minister Netanyahu and other members of his coalition government, a Spanish lawmaker announced on Saturday.

Communist Party MP Yolanda Díaz, who serves as the labour minister and second deputy prime minister, said her faction is working with Sanchez’ ruling Socialist Workers’ Party to draft measures designed to “break relations with the criminal Netanyahu regime.”

The measure includes declaring the Israeli premier and other senior ministers persona non grata in Spain, curtailing trade between the two countries, and recalling Spain’s ambassador to Israel.

In addition, Díaz proposed barring the use of Spanish ports for ships transferring arms to Israel.