The Diplomat
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has put out a call for tenders for the post of Spanish consul general in Jerusalem, which became vacant after Ignacio García Valdecasas was removed from the post.
The Consulate General in Jerusalem is one of the so-called “asterisk” posts, so the minister will be able to appoint the person she wishes to take charge of it, without having to hear the opinion of the Board of the Diplomatic Career.
García Valdecasas, according to The Diplomat, was dismissed on the 10th, following an internal investigation that revealed allegations of mistreatment by some of the consulate’s employees, accusations that were rejected by the consul.
The dismissal came at a time of great tension in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and when the consulate, which in practice acts as an unofficial embassy to Palestine, was providing assistance to the Spaniard Juana Ruiz, a resident of Palestinian territory and accused of links to an illegal organisation.
