<h6><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has expressed his support for expelling the Israel-Premier Tech team from La Vuelta a España because "there can only be relations with Israel when human rights are respected."</strong></h4> In an interview with Radio Nacional de España on Thursday night, José Manuel Albares defended the imposition of strong measures against Israel, including exclusion from international competitions such as the Vuelta a España, a decision "that is not the responsibility of the Spanish government" but which he "understands" and personally shares. "Just as a message was sent to Russian society, Europe must make Israel understand that there can only be relations when human rights are respected," he warned. Regarding the protests that have accompanied the Israeli cycling team at the Vuelta a España, Albares stated that they do not surprise him. "I know that Spanish society is supportive and stands on the side of unprotected civilians, of children, of Gazan babies who are currently dying from bombs," he declared. The minister also asserted that Spain is leading international efforts to stop the war in Gaza and move toward the creation of a realistic and viable Palestinian state. He called for the imposition of sanctions against the Netanyahu government, since, "as with Russia, we cannot have a normal relationship with Israel as if nothing were happening." He also emphasized that Spain has spearheaded the new wave of recognition of Palestine, which, he recalled, will soon be followed by countries such as France, Portugal, Belgium, Luxembourg, Canada, and the United Kingdom. For its part, the Israeli Embassy in Spain has denounced the pro-Palestinian protests taking place at La Vuelta a Cicletadora (Cycle Tour) over the participation of the Israel-Premier Tech team. "It's unacceptable to see the hatred and demonization of Israelis," wrote the Embassy's new chargé d'affaires, Dana Erlich, on the social media platform X. In her opinion, the "hatred" displayed by the protesters in Bilbao, where the protests forced the finish line to be moved up, "is not 'political,' it's not a call for 'peace,' it's a call for the destruction of a country." Separately, Dan Poraz, political advisor at the Israeli Embassy in Spain, has compared the controversy at La Vuelta a Cicletadora to the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492.
