Spain will ask the European Union to end its association agreement with Israel over alleged violations of international law, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Sunday.
Spain has criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government over the Gaza conflict and Israel’s attacks on neighboring Lebanon. Netanyahu has accused Spain of “hypocrisy and hostility”, AFP reported.
“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.
He alleged 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 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 his country and barred Madrid from taking part in the work of a US-led center created to help stabilize 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.”
