<h6><strong>Eduardo González</strong></h6> <h4><strong>The Spanish government on Monday "strongly" rejected the "false and slanderous accusations of antisemitism" made by the Israeli government toward Spain and the Spanish people, as well as the unacceptable entry ban on two members of the Spanish government.</strong></h4> "The measures regarding the inhumane situation in Gaza and the West Bank, announced today by the Prime Minister of Spain, respond to the majority sentiment of Spanish society and are adopted within the framework of its sovereignty and in accordance with its defense of peace, human rights, and international law," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared in a statement. The statement comes after Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced nine measures on Monday to stop Israel's "genocide" in Gaza, including the "urgent" adoption of a law to impose an arms embargo on Israel. Benjamin Netanyahu's government has reacted by accusing the Spanish government of "antisemitism" and banning Vice President Yolanda Díaz and Minister Sira Rego from entering the country. "In recent years, Spain has granted nationality to 72,000 Sephardim, who are now our fellow citizens," the Foreign Ministry continued. "This government immediately condemned the horrific attack by the terrorist group Hamas and has consistently demanded the release of all hostages," it recalled. "It also approved the first National Plan against Antisemitism in our history in January 2023 and decided to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism. This government is committed to combating antisemitism and racism and to a country where there is no room for any form of discrimination," it stated. “Likewise, the Government of Spain sovereignly defends the existence of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side and mutually guaranteeing peace and security, and demands that Israel end its occupation of Gaza and the West Bank, end the violence unleashed against the Palestinian civilian population, and end the humanitarian blockade of the Strip,” the Foreign Ministry warned. “The Government of Spain will not be intimidated in its defense of peace, international law, and human rights,” it concluded.
