Spain Terminates Ambassador to Israel

Spain has formally terminated the appointment of its ambassador to Israel, Ana María Salomón Pérez, in a move that underscores deepening diplomatic tensions between the two nations. The decision, approved by the Council of Ministers at the proposal of Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, was published Wednesday in Spain's official state gazette. Salomón, who had served in the role since July 2021, was recalled to Madrid for consultations in September 2024 amid disputes over Spain's policies toward Israel's military actions in Gaza.

With the termination, Spain's embassy in Tel Aviv will now operate under a chargé d'affaires on an indefinite basis. Israel has maintained a similar arrangement in Madrid since May 2024, when it recalled its ambassador in response to Spain's recognition of a Palestinian state. Both countries' missions in each other's capitals are thus led by interim diplomats, marking a significant downgrade in bilateral ties.

The action formalizes a de facto severance that began with heightened frictions following Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which started in October 2023. Spain's government, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has taken several steps in...