Albares justifies the dismissal of Ana Sálomon due to Israel’s constant “insults and slander” against Spain

Eduardo González Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated this Thursday that the government's decision to dismiss the Israeli ambassador to Spain, Ana Sálomon, is a response to the continuous "very serious insults and slander by members of the Israeli government against the Spanish government." The Council of Ministers approved this Tuesday, at Albares's proposal, the dismissal of Ana Sálomon as Spain's ambassador to the State of Israel, coinciding with the Spanish government's strong criticism of the US-Israeli coalition's offensive against Iran and after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar accused Spain of "supporting tyrants," referring to the Islamic Republic. With this decision, published this Wednesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), an end has been brought to a mission that began in July 2021, during which Ana Sálomon witnessed firsthand the deterioration of diplomatic relations between Spain and Israel due to the strong opposition of Pedro Sánchez's government to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offensive in the Gaza Strip. This diplomatic crisis reached its peak in May 2024 with Spain's decision to officially recognize the State of Palestine. In statements to TVE this Thursday, Albares asserted that, "throughout this time, Spain has tried to maintain the best possible relations despite the fact that we have been systematically receiving insults and slander from Israel against Spain and the Spanish people." She affirmed that this situation continued last week, with "very serious insults and slander from members of the Israeli government against the Spanish government." “What has become clear is that Spain’s goodwill in maintaining the best relations has not been reciprocated, neither diplomatically, by increasing the level of Israel’s representation in Spain, nor by restraining Israel’s insults and slander against the Spanish people,” Albares lamented. In his opinion, “it made no sense to continue” in this situation, with Ana Sálomon recalled for consultations “indefinitely” six months ago. Therefore, the Government has decided to place Spain at the same level of representation that Israel has had “for almost two years,” since it recalled its ambassador, Rodica Radian-Gordon, for consultations in retaliation for the recognition of Palestine. Thus, with this decision, the two countries are “on equal footing,” with their respective chargés d'affaires heading their embassies. In any case, he assured, the Embassy in Israel remains “fully operational, serving the Spanish community in Israel.” The decision to dismiss the ambassador was celebrated by the Islamic Resistance Movement, Hamas, in a statement. In response, Gideon Saar wrote on social media that, “when Hamas and the Iranian regime form the biggest fan club of the Spanish Prime Minister, the Spanish people should ask themselves why.” “Tell me who praises you and I’ll tell you who you are,” he added. Ana Sálomon was recalled for consultations in September 2025 after Gideon Saar labeled the Spanish government “anti-Semitic” in response to the nine measures announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez to stop the “genocide” in Gaza by Israel, including the “urgent” adoption of a Royal Decree-Law to impose an arms embargo on Israel. Saar also announced that he would ban the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Labor, Yolanda Díaz, and the Minister of Youth and Children, Sira Rego, from entering the country. Consequently, Albares recalled the ambassador for consultations "in light of the slanderous accusations against Spain and the unacceptable measures against two members of our country's government."

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