Israel accuses Spain of 'antisemitism' after Netanyahu effigy blow up

Israel has accused Spain of antisemitic hatred after a 23ft-tall effigy of Benjamin Netanyahu was blown up during a festival.

The country's foreign ministry has summoned Spain’s ambassador for a reprimand after the figurine of the Israeli prime minister was destroyed near Malaga on April 5.

It was blown up with 14kg of gunpowder in El Burgo as part of a traditional and decades-old ceremony, according to María Dolores Narváez, the mayor.

Narváez also told local television that the annual event has previously featured effigies of figures such as US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Following the event, the Israeli foreign ministry took to X to say the 'appalling anti-Semitic hatred on display' was 'a direct result' of 'systemic incitement' by the government of Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister.

A Spanish foreign ministry source told Reuters that the government was 'committed to fighting anti-Semitism and any form of hate or discrimination. As such, we totally reject ⁠any insidious allegation which suggests the contrary'. 

The incident further escalates a long-running diplomatic dispute between Spain and Israel, which began following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel.

Spain has been a vocal critic of US and Israeli military campaigns in the region, despite warnings from America over uncooperative NATO allies.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has previously labelled a Spanish ban on aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel as antisemitic. 

He said that during the joint US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, the Spanish government acted against the interests of Israel and America.

'Spain's obsessive anti-Israel bias under Sánchez's leadership is so egregious that it has lost all capability to serve a constructive role in implementing [Trump's] peace plan and the centre operating under it,' Sa'ar said. 

Meanwhile, on Friday, Netanyahu ordered the removal of Spain's representatives from the Gaza ceasefire co-ordination centre in Kiryat Gat after it accused Israel of 'indiscriminate bombings' in Lebanon.

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'The State of Israel will not remain silent in the face of those who attack us,' Netanyahu explained in a recorded video posted on X.

'Spain has slandered our heroes, Israel Defence Forces soldiers, the soldiers of the most moral army in the world,' he said. 

'Therefore, I have instructed that Spain's representatives be removed from the coordination centre in Kiryat Gat, after Spain has repeatedly chosen to stand against Israel.

'Whoever attacks the State of Israel instead of the terror regimes—whoever does so — will not be our partner regarding the future of the region. 

'I will not tolerate this hypocrisy and this hostility. I do not intend to allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying an immediate price,' Netanyahu added.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares was also accused Israel of violating international law and a two-week ceasefire following a wave of airstrikes across Lebanon this week. 

Netanyahu countered on Wednesday that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire and that Israel's military would continue to strike Hezbollah. 

And on Thursday, Spain came under fire from Israel following its decision to reopen its embassy in Tehran, with Madrid being accused of aligning itself with 'the Iranian terror regime'.

Albares announced the move earlier in the day, saying the country hoped 'to achieve peace in the region.' 

The Spanish foreign minister said he had instructed Spain's ambassador to return to Tehran and resume duties 'from every possible quarter, including from the Iranian capital itself.' 

Sa'ar later took to X to state that Iran was 'resuming the execution of its citizens, protesters and political dissidents,' calling Madrid's decision 'an eternal disgrace.' 

In November 2024, Spain recognised Palestine as a state along with Ireland and Norway.