Israeli Sanctions Hesitation by Merz vs. Sánchez's Support
In a recent joint press conference, the differences in Israel policy were a dominant theme. This comes as Spain, a critical EU member, threatens to withdraw its contribution to the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2026 if Israel sends a participation.
The tension between Spain and Israel has been escalating over Israel's military actions in Gaza, with Spain being one of the EU countries most vocal in its criticism. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has demanded that Israel be treated like Russia, which was excluded after its comprehensive military attack on Ukraine in 2022.
Spain has already taken concrete steps to put pressure on Israel. This includes a complete arms embargo and a travel ban for those involved in alleged genocide, human rights violations, and war crimes in Gaza. The country has also called for the EU Commission to suspend the strategic partnership agreement between the EU and Israel.
The Spanish stance aligns with several EU countries promoting similar measures over the past year. The EU Parliament’s resolution, which Spain supports, condemns Hamas but stresses Israel's right to self-defense while opposing indiscriminate military actions harming civilians. It also supports suspending parts of the EU-Israel association agreement and calls for investigations into violations of international law, urging member states to consider recognizing Palestine.
However, the sanctions issue is highly controversial within the German coalition, with the SPD supporting more pressure on Israel and the CSU opposing further sanctions. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, during his first visit to Spain since taking office, reaffirmed Germany's support for Israel but did not comment on the EU Commission's proposed sanctions.
The controversy extends to sports as well. During this year's Vuelta a España cycling race, there were repeated issues due to protests against the participation of the Israeli team Israel-Premier Tech. The team eventually removed "Israel" from its jerseys due to the protests.
Spain's accusations against Israel have been severe. Pedro Sánchez accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, a claim that has sparked intense debate. Spain believes that the Israeli government has violated one of the agreement's key articles regarding respect for international humanitarian law.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proposed punitive measures, including trade sanctions and personal sanctions, to pressure Israel's government. Sánchez expressed his support for these proposed sanctions.
Merz, however, defended his decision to restrict arms exports to Israel, stating that it was in line with Germany's commitment to upholding international law and promoting peace in the region.
This developing situation between Spain and Israel, and the support from other EU countries, is set to be a key topic at the upcoming EU summit at the beginning of October, where the German government aims to decide on the proposals. The outcome could have significant implications for the future relationship between the EU and Israel.
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