Israeli Sanctions Debate: Sánchez Advocates, Merz Hesitant
In a series of significant developments, Spain and Germany have taken contrasting stances on Israel, with Spain pushing for stronger action against the Middle Eastern nation.
Spain has been vocal in its criticism of Israel, particularly over its military actions in the Gaza Strip. The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, has compared Israel's potential participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026 to Russia's exclusion after its comprehensive attack on Ukraine in 2022. Spain is among the EU countries that have strongly criticized Israel and is demanding Israel's exclusion from the ESC 2026.
This demand comes after a series of incidents, including protests during the Vuelta a España cycling race that forced the Israeli team Israel-Premier Tech to remove 'Israel' from its jerseys. Spain has also imposed a complete weapons embargo and banned entry for individuals involved in genocide, human rights violations, and war crimes in Gaza. In 2024, Spain joined South Africa's genocide lawsuit against Israel at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
On the other hand, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Spain for the first time since his inauguration. While Merz reaffirmed Germany's support for Israel, Sánchez expressed support for the EU Commission's proposed sanctions against Israel. Within the CDU, trade sanctions are met with disapproval, but there is some openness to personal sanctions. The SPD, a part of the black-red coalition, advocates putting more pressure on Israel, while the CSU is against further sanctions. The German government will decide on the EU's proposed sanctions by early October.
The meetings between Merz and Sánchez focused on bilateral relations, European policy, and security policy. However, Sánchez reaffirmed his accusations against Israel during the meeting, citing Israel's potential violation of one of the most important articles of the strategic partnership agreement between the EU and Israel, namely the one on respect for international humanitarian law.
The EU Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, has proposed punitive measures to pressure the Israeli government, including withdrawing trade preferences for 37% of Israel's exports to the EU and imposing sanctions on radical politicians accused of human rights violations and incitement to hatred.
In a surprising turn of events, Spanish broadcaster RTVE, one of the five major financial backers of ESC, has threatened to withdraw if Israel sends a contribution to ESC 2026. This threat further intensifies the tension between Spain and Israel.
As the situation unfolds, it remains to be seen how the EU will respond to the growing calls for action against Israel and whether Germany will align more closely with Spain's stance. One thing is certain: the relationship between Spain and Israel is undergoing a significant shift, with Spain taking a firm stand against what it perceives as Israel's violations of international law.
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