Spain’s ambassador to Israel relieved of duties

The Spanish government officially relieved the ambassador to Israel, Ana Sálomon, of her duties, Euronews writes.

The decision was announced in the official state journal on Tuesday after being approved at the last Council of Ministers.

With this measure, Spain will leave its embassy in Tel Aviv without an ambassador and maintain its diplomatic representation at the level of chargé d’affaires. The decision has been interpreted as a gesture of reciprocity after Israel previously adopted a similar measure with its diplomatic mission in Madrid.

Sálomon was recalled from Tel Aviv in September after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced measures aimed at stopping what he described as a genocide in Gaza.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar subsequently accused Sánchez of antisemitism and barred two of his ministers from entering Israel, pushing already strained relations between the two countries to new lows.