Eduardo González
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has summoned the Israeli chargé d’affaires in Madrid, Dana Erlich, to convey Spain’s protest over the “unjustifiable detention” of a Spanish soldier serving with the UN mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) by the Israeli army, according to sources at the Ministry.
The Israeli army detained a Spanish peacekeeper for nearly an hour on Tuesday after blocking a UNIFIL convoy. According to Defense Minister Margarita Robles, the Israeli military released the soldier after Spain lodged its “strongest protest” with both the United Nations and the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.
During a visit to the Lebanese Embassy in Spain, where she met with Ambassador Hani Chemaitelly, Robles explained to the press that several Spanish soldiers were part of a logistics convoy preparing to deliver food and other supplies to the Indonesian contingent when it was stopped by an Israeli patrol. One of the Spanish UNIFIL members was detained “for a period of time,” according to the minister.
“Spain immediately lodged the strongest protest with both the UN and the Israeli government,” after which the Spanish soldier “was released,” Robles continued, adding that the government has requested that those responsible be held accountable and has already received “assurance” that the person responsible for these events “will be punished.”
Ceasefire
During her meeting with the Lebanese ambassador, Robles described the news of the agreement for a provisional ceasefire between the United States and Iran as “positive,” but warned that the truce must include Lebanon. “Today is a very special day to demand that the ceasefire that has been reached, which is provisional, be extended to Lebanon,” she declared. “The international community cannot accept pronouncements that leave Lebanon out of this negotiation process,” she added.
For his part, the Lebanese ambassador thanked Spain for its “commitment to the security and stability of Lebanon.” “We appreciate this ongoing support from the Spanish government and hope that in the coming days this support will yield fruitful results,” he added.
Later, the Minister of Defense visited the Indonesian Embassy in Spain, where she conveyed her condolences to Ambassador Muhammad Najib for the recent deaths of three Indonesian soldiers who were serving under Spanish command in the UNIFIL mission. She also reiterated that Israel and Hezbollah must end their attacks against the mission’s forces.