Israel’s Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, announced on Friday that the Spanish Embassy will be barred from providing services to West Bank Palestinians.
The decision came in response to Spain’s moves towards recognizing a Palestinian state and remarks by Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister deemed antisemitic by Katz.
He stated, “In response to Spain’s recognition of a Palestinian state and the antisemitic call by Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister to ‘liberate Palestine from the river to the sea,’ I have decided to prohibit the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem from providing services to Palestinians from the West Bank.”
Katz added, “To comprehend what radical Islam truly seeks, this ignorant and hate-filled individual should examine the 700 years of Islamic rule in Al-Andalus – modern-day Spain.”
Spain, Ireland, and Norway announced on Wednesday their plans to recognize an independent Palestinian state by the end of May. Israel reacted with indignation to these announcements.