Pique is not policy, nor is diatribe diplomacy. Nevertheless, there are times when national honor demands an undiplomatic response to another country’s defamation.
Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar judged – rightfully, in our opinion – that Monday was precisely such a moment, after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez accused Israel of “exterminating a defenseless people” and committing “genocide.”
“Protecting your country and your society is one thing,” Sánchez declared, “but bombing hospitals and killing innocent boys and girls with hunger is another thing entirely.”
He coupled those remarks with sweeping measures: banning all arms imports and exports with Israel; prohibiting the use of Spanish ports and airspace to transport weapons or fuel to the IDF; and blocking the import of goods from Israeli settlements. He went further still, announcing that anyone “directly involved in the genocide” would be barred from Spain.
In recent months, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has shown a growing unwillingness to simply “turn the other cheek.” Sa’ar’s response to Sánchez was another illustration of that shift.
In a scathing statement, Sa’ar accused the Spanish government of pursuing a virulently anti-Israel and antisemitic line, driven by Sánchez’s political weakness and corruption scandals. He blasted Madrid’s “wild rhetoric dripping with hatred” and contrasted its obsessive activism against Israel with its coziness toward “dark tyrannical regimes” such as Iran and Venezuela.
Sa’ar also placed Spain’s behavior in historical perspective. He reminded the world of Spain’s past crimes against the Jewish people – from the Inquisition to forced conversions and finally to the “complete ethnic cleansing” of Jews in 1492. He noted that Spain was the last Western European country to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, not doing so until 1986.
Words were followed by deeds. Sa’ar announced sanctions against two virulently anti-Israel Spanish ministers and, more importantly, pledged to raise Spain’s rhetoric with Israel’s allies at the next plenary of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA).
By framing Madrid’s attacks as demonization, delegitimization, and double standards – hallmarks of antisemitism under the IHRA definition – Jerusalem made clear that it intends to treat Spain’s hostility not merely as a bilateral quarrel, but as an international issue.
Sa’ar also acknowledged – correctly – that not all criticism of Israel is antisemitism. But when criticism crosses into demonization, delegitimization, and double standards, as in Spain’s case, it falls squarely on the dark side of that line.
As Israel doesn't back down, Spain recalls its ambassador
Later, at a press conference in Budapest, Sa’ar delivered another pointed message: Spain’s arms embargo would hurt Spain more than Israel. In defense technology, he pointed out, Spain needs Israel more than Israel needs Spain.
Madrid was not amused. After Sa’ar’s response, Spain recalled its ambassador to Israel. Jerusalem, for its part, has already been without an ambassador in Madrid since November 2023, having recalled its envoy when Sánchez accused Israel of indiscriminate killings, only weeks after October 7. Since then, Israel’s embassy in Madrid has been headed by a chargé d’affaires.
Could Israel have ignored Sánchez’s latest remarks and simply moved on? In calmer times, perhaps. But these are not normal times. The words of the Spanish prime minister, driven by domestic political calculations, should not go unanswered. Defaming Israel or taking steps harmful to its national interests must have consequences.
This is not without precedent. Ireland learned last year, when Israel closed its embassy in Dublin, that relentless hostility comes with a price. France, too, is likely to feel repercussions after leading a surge of recognition of a Palestinian state by Western countries. Jerusalem is reportedly considering closing the French consulate in east Jerusalem that deals with the Palestinian Authority.
None of these steps is earthshattering. Ireland can function without an Israeli embassy; France would suffer only symbolic damage if its consulate were shut; and Spain will survive, even if relations are further downgraded. But symbolism matters in diplomacy. These measures send a clear message: Israel is not a doormat. It will not silently absorb abuse.
National pride is not a trivial matter. It is a vital component of resilience and deterrence. Just as individuals are respected when they respect themselves, so too with nations. By standing up to defamation and holding others accountable, Israel signals not only to its critics but also to its citizens and allies that it takes its dignity seriously. And in today’s volatile world, that self-respect underpins resilience and deterrence.