Spain permanently withdraws ambassador as rift with Israel deepens
Source: Reuters
March 11, 20265:46 AM CST
MADRID, March 11 (Reuters) - Spain permanently withdrew its ambassador to Israel on Tuesday as a diplomatic standoff worsened between the two countries over Spain's opposition to the U.S.-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The ambassador was summoned back to Spain last September amid a diplomatic row over Spanish measures banning aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel from its ports or airspace due to Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar denounced as antisemitic.
On Tuesday, Spain published an announcement in its official gazette that the ambassador's position had been terminated. Spain's Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Tel Aviv will be led by a charge d'affaires for the foreseeable future.
-snip-
Israel's embassy in Spain is also run by a charge d'affaires after the country summoned its ambassador last May in protest at Spain's decision to recognise a Palestinian state.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/spain-removes-ambassador-israel-2026-03-11/
= new reply since forum marked as read
