Spanish Congress Approves Initiative to Embargo Arms Sales to Israel
With significant support from PSOE and Junts, the initiative seeks to halt military transactions amid escalating violence in Gaza.
The Spanish Congress has passed an initiative aimed at embargoing arms sales to Israel, receiving 176 votes in favor, backed by the coalition of Sumar, ERC, Podemos, and BNG.
The initiative garnered support from the ruling PSOE party and Junts, while 170 votes against were cast by Vox and PP.
This legislative proposal arrived in Congress coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aspiration for a total takeover of Gaza and the recent intensification of airstrikes in the region over the previous weekend.
The text of the initiative seeks to prohibit any resources that could enhance the Israeli military’s offensive against the Palestinian people, including crowd control equipment or military-related fuel.
The proposed law amends existing legislation on foreign trade, specifically to forbid military contracts with states accused of genocide or crimes against humanity, which proponents argue applies in the case of Israel.
This marks an initial step towards formal processing of the measure.
Earlier debates had seen Sumar urging PSOE to support the admission of the proposal, asserting that Spain must not 'collaborate with any state committing genocide or war crimes,' suggesting this includes ceasing support for Israel’s arms industry.
Verónica Barbero, spokesperson for Sumar in Congress, expressed satisfaction with the PSOE's support and claimed their position has shifted due in part to Sumar’s influence within the government.
Following the voting results, Barbero referred to the outcome as a 'historic norm to end this atrocious genocide' and emphasized their determination to see this reflected in official legislation.
Néstor Rego, spokesperson for BNG, stated that there should be no arms contracts with any state violating international law and committing war crimes.
He emphasized the need for consistent actions in line with the designation of Israel as a genocidal state by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Patxi López, the spokesperson for the Socialist Group in Congress, rejected claims that the change in position was influenced by coalition partners and reiterated the government's historical support for Palestinian rights.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles has confirmed that Spain has not purchased arms from Israel since October 7, 2023, the date when Israel commenced its military operations against Gaza.
Robles clarified that existing contracts with Israeli industry are not for armaments but involve licenses and specific technologies.
Robles mentioned that Spain might explore alternatives for crucial technologies sourced from Israel, specifying that such needs would be assessed as they arise.
Ione Belarra, leader of Podemos, criticized the government for perceived hypocrisy, questioning the legitimacy of arms transactions with Israel while simultaneously advocating for its withdrawal from Eurovisión amid the ongoing crisis in Palestine.
Belarra highlighted recent contract cancellations for ammunition purchases while still maintaining several defense-related agreements with Israel.
She indicated that Podemos would introduce a non-legislative proposal demanding the government refrain from committing to any military increase at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague in June and to seek Spain’s exit from the Atlantic Alliance, alongside the removal of U.S. military bases from Spanish territory.
The initiative garnered support from the ruling PSOE party and Junts, while 170 votes against were cast by Vox and PP.
This legislative proposal arrived in Congress coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's aspiration for a total takeover of Gaza and the recent intensification of airstrikes in the region over the previous weekend.
The text of the initiative seeks to prohibit any resources that could enhance the Israeli military’s offensive against the Palestinian people, including crowd control equipment or military-related fuel.
The proposed law amends existing legislation on foreign trade, specifically to forbid military contracts with states accused of genocide or crimes against humanity, which proponents argue applies in the case of Israel.
This marks an initial step towards formal processing of the measure.
Earlier debates had seen Sumar urging PSOE to support the admission of the proposal, asserting that Spain must not 'collaborate with any state committing genocide or war crimes,' suggesting this includes ceasing support for Israel’s arms industry.
Verónica Barbero, spokesperson for Sumar in Congress, expressed satisfaction with the PSOE's support and claimed their position has shifted due in part to Sumar’s influence within the government.
Following the voting results, Barbero referred to the outcome as a 'historic norm to end this atrocious genocide' and emphasized their determination to see this reflected in official legislation.
Néstor Rego, spokesperson for BNG, stated that there should be no arms contracts with any state violating international law and committing war crimes.
He emphasized the need for consistent actions in line with the designation of Israel as a genocidal state by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
Patxi López, the spokesperson for the Socialist Group in Congress, rejected claims that the change in position was influenced by coalition partners and reiterated the government's historical support for Palestinian rights.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles has confirmed that Spain has not purchased arms from Israel since October 7, 2023, the date when Israel commenced its military operations against Gaza.
Robles clarified that existing contracts with Israeli industry are not for armaments but involve licenses and specific technologies.
Robles mentioned that Spain might explore alternatives for crucial technologies sourced from Israel, specifying that such needs would be assessed as they arise.
Ione Belarra, leader of Podemos, criticized the government for perceived hypocrisy, questioning the legitimacy of arms transactions with Israel while simultaneously advocating for its withdrawal from Eurovisión amid the ongoing crisis in Palestine.
Belarra highlighted recent contract cancellations for ammunition purchases while still maintaining several defense-related agreements with Israel.
She indicated that Podemos would introduce a non-legislative proposal demanding the government refrain from committing to any military increase at the upcoming NATO summit in The Hague in June and to seek Spain’s exit from the Atlantic Alliance, alongside the removal of U.S. military bases from Spanish territory.
Translation:
Translated by AI
AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
