Spain announces cancellation of contentious $7.5 million weaponry purchase from Israeli firm; action taken following unity government pressure from leftist allies, as per Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Madrid, Spain - Spain's government scrapped a contentious $7.5 million ammo deal with Israel last Thursday, facing pressure from their far-left allies within the coalition.
Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez stepped in to axe the agreement after Sumar, a group of radical left-wing parties, threatened to exit the ruling coalition.
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"Following exhaustive negotiations, the prime minister, deputy prime minister, and the involved ministries jointly decided to terminate this contract with Israeli company IMI Systems," an anonymous government source told Al Jazeera on the said day.
Spain has been vocal in criticizing Israel's Gaza conflict and in October 2023, pledged to cease selling weapons to Israel. In February 2024, it also declared it would not buy weapons from Israel. However, in the same month, the Spanish Ministry of Interior inked a deal with IMI Solutions to acquire 15 million rounds of ammo intended for the Civil Guard, Spain's semi-military police force.
A series of protests from five Sumar ministers prompted the Spanish government to initiate a study to determine if the arrangement could be terminated.
"A study was initiated in October 2024 to explore potential termination of the contract. After the study, the ministry decided to heed the recommendation of the state attorney, who counseled against termination at the time, thus honoring the contract," a spokesperson for the Interior Ministry told Al Jazeera. They added that terminating the contract would have meant compensating IMI Solutions without receiving the goods.
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On Wednesday, April 23, the Interior Ministry revealed its intention to move forward with the arms deal, six months after attempting to cancel it to avoid paying compensation to IMI Solutions.
In reaction, Yolanda Díaz, deputy prime minister and leader of Sumar, stated to reporters in Barcelona, "This deal needs rectification. I emphasize, it is a flagrant violation of agreements during the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people."
Analysts predicted this rift could widen already strained relations between the Socialists and Sumar in Spain's precarious government, particularly after Sanchez announced on Tuesday that his government would elevate defense spending to 2 percent of GDP (Gross Domestic Product) to meet NATO targets. This decision caused irritation among Sumar members. Under pressure from US President Donald Trump, Spain, who has the lowest NATO budget among its 32 members, planned a 10.5 billion euro ($12 billion) plan to achieve the 2 percent goal in the same year.
Spanish citizens were divided over the deal, with a poll conducted by online newspaper 20minutos.es indicating that 48.46% of the 7,871 surveyed opposed it, while 46.94% supported the deal, while 4.58% were uncertain.
"Buying this ammo would have signaled that Spain was not supporting Palestine, thereby betraying the more than 50,000 people who have perished in Gaza during the genocide there," Igor Otxoa, of the Guernica Palestine organization, a civilian group, told Al Jazeera.
In the aftermath of the controversy, Veronica Martinez Barbero, Sumar's parliamentary spokesperson, told Al Jazeera Spain should not pursue the contract.
"This issue involves failing to adhere to commitments. The defense minister promised Spain would not purchase these weapons. We demand rectification and the prevention of contract completion," she stated.
However, not everyone supports the decision to cancel the contract. Astrid Barrio Lopez, a political analyst at the University of Valencia, told Al Jazeera that the decision "sheds light on the lack of legal security for companies dealing with the Spanish government, as well as the absence of leadership within the government."
The Israeli embassy in Madrid could not be reached for comment. Late on Thursday, Israel criticized Spain's decision to halt the ammunition deal and accused Spain of "sacrificing security considerations for political purposes."
"Israel fiercely denounces the Spanish government's unilateral breach of the contract with defense company IMI Systems and its statement to refrain from future defense deals with Israeli companies," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement to the AFP news agency.
They added, "Spain persists on being on the wrong side of history - opposing the Jewish state as it defends itself from terrorist attacks."
- The prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, cancelled a contentious ammo deal with Israeli company IMI Systems in light of pressure from far-left allies within the coalition.
- The Spanish government initiated a study in October 2024 to explore potential termination of the contract after a series of protests from Sumar ministers.
- Yolanda Diaz, deputy prime minister and leader of Sumar, stated that the deal was a flagrant violation of agreements during the ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.
- Analysts predict this rift could widen already strained relations between the Socialists and Sumar in Spain's precarious government, particularly after Sanchez announced defense spending increase to meet NATO targets.
- Israel criticized Spain's decision to halt the ammunition deal, accusing Spain of sacrificing security considerations for political purposes and opposing Israel as it defends itself from terrorist attacks.
