The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a note verbale to “the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Madrid”, in which it informs it that “it enjoys all the privileges and immunities corresponding to States according to International Law, with special attention to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations,” according to diplomatic sources.
This is the first communication sent by the Spanish Government to “the Embassy of the State of Palestine”, after having proceeded to its recognition by Spain on May 28.
Until now, the Palestinian diplomatic representation in Spain was considered a “Mission”, although its highest representative was granted the category of ambassador.
The measure adopted after the approval by the Council of Ministers of the recognition of Palestine as a State has caused the discomfort of the Israeli authorities who, through their Minister of Foreign Affairs, Israel Katz, already warned the Spanish Government that it could not provide services to the Palestinians, as it had been doing until now, from the Consulate General of Spain in Jerusalem. The Consulate, which has acted for years as an “unofficial” Embassy to the Palestinians, is located in the area of East Jerusalem occupied by Israel and authorization for its operation is granted by the Israeli authorities.
Yesterday the order given by the Israeli Foreign Ministry to the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem not to provide services to Palestinians residing in the occupied West Bank came into force. Yesterday, the consular office, located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem (Palestinian territory occupied by Israel since the 1967 war), only opened for two hours to serve voters registered for the European elections.
Last Friday, Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz threatened to close the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem if it fails to comply with his order not to provide services to Palestinians in the West Bank, in retaliation for Spain’s recognition of the Palestinian state. The threat was responded to with a verbal note from the Spanish Government to the Israeli Government, announcing that it completely rejected any limitations imposed on the Consulate.
The measure does not affect Spanish citizens or Palestinians residing in East Jerusalem, since the entire city has been under Israeli administration since 1980, when Israel’s Knesset (Parliament) approved the unilateral annexation of the eastern part. Only citizens residing in the territories administered by the Palestinian National Authority (i.e. in the occupied West Bank) will be deprived of access to consular services, such as visa applications.
The Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem has a special status as it is a historical office, established before the creation of the State of Israel (specifically, it opened its doors in 1853).
Last year, the office issued about 7,000 visas to West Bank residents, 1,200 to Gazans and about 2,500 to Jerusalem residents, both Palestinians and Jews.
The Consulate General in Jerusalem, headed by diplomat Alfonso Lucini, has in fact been functioning as an “unofficial” embassy for the Palestinians of the West Bank, and exercises the diplomatic representation of Spain before the Palestinian National Authority.
Katz calls for the dismissal of Díaz
Meanwhile, yesterday Israel Katz demanded that the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, dismiss the second vice president Yolanda Díaz, since otherwise, he said, he would be “complicit in calling for the genocide of the Jewish people.”
After recalling on his social network account that Díaz is calling for “the creation of a Palestinian State from the river to the sea,” Katz added that if Sánchez does not immediately dismiss her “he will be complicit in calling for the genocide of the Jewish people in Israel.” .
Meanwhile, Albares expressed yesterday on the social network X Spain’s support for the “immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of all hostages, and the increase in humanitarian aid that leads to lasting peace in the Middle East, as proposed by the initiative of the president of the United States with the support of Qatar and Egypt”. “We want a peaceful future for Israel and Palestine,” he added.
The same support was expressed by the President of the Government who, also on the social network X pointed out that “a ceasefire is urgently needed to end the humanitarian catastrophe, as well as the immediate release of all the hostages.” Only the implementation of the two-state solution will enable a future of peace, security and prosperity for the region.”, he added.
