Israeli attacks on the UN mission in Lebanon have diplomatic repercussions. The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, joined this Friday morning the position of French President Emmanuel Macron, aiming to impose an international limit on arms shipments to Israel. And, as elDiario.es learned from official Foreign Affairs sources, “Spain summoned this morning the charge d’affaires of the Israeli embassy to protest against the unjustified attacks by the Israeli army against the UNIFIL positions. [ahora llamada FPNUL; UNIFIL en inglés]and recent comments on Spain and the Spanish.
Spain summoned the charge d’affaires because Israel’s new ambassador to Madrid, Zvi Vapni, has not yet joined the embassy and it is unclear when he will join the leadership of an embassy that has been vacant since last May , when Benjamin Netanyahu called consultations. with the former head of the diplomatic legation, Rodica Radian-Gordon.
Spain’s decision comes just as France summoned Israel’s ambassador to France after the two consecutive attacks on the UN peacekeeping mission. “These attacks constitute serious violations of international law and must stop immediately,” denounced the ministry in a press release. “The Israeli authorities must give explanations,” he added, justifying their decision.
Insults to Spain
The Israeli Foreign Ministry said last Sunday that it considers it “unacceptable” that a democratic society “allows the glorification of terrorism” and that Spain has become “a paradise for sowing hatred and inciting destruction” ‘Israel. also refused to allow this “apology of terrorism” to be authorized.
This was declared after the demonstrations which took place in several Spanish cities – and around the world – to demand an end to the massacre in Gaza, which has already left 42,000 dead.
“The Masar Badil Movement, an organization linked to terrorist groups such as the PFLP and Samidoun, has chosen Madrid as the location of its annual international congress and the demonstration, convened today. [el domingo 6 de octubre]to celebrate the brutal 7-O massacre,” the Israeli embassy in Spain tweeted: “We are outraged and saddened that Spain has become a haven for sowing hatred and inciting the destruction of Israel. “It is unacceptable that a democratic society allows the glorification of terrorism and the celebration of crimes against humanity perpetrated by Hamas.”
New Israeli attack on the UN in Lebanon
The Israeli army again attacked this Friday for the second consecutive day the positions of the UN peacekeeping mission, UNIFIL (UNIFIL), deployed in southern Lebanon. The attack occurred in Naqoura, where the headquarters is located, and injured two “blue helmets”, as a UN source reported to the Reuters agency. There are no Spaniards among the injured, as confirmed to elDiario.es by the Ministry of Defense.
Several explosions took place against an observation tower and Lebanese media indicate that the injured came from the Sri Lankan detachment. Additionally, Israeli bulldozers tore down the perimeter walls of another UN position in Labbouneh, which was also attacked on Thursday.
“This morning, the Naqoura base was hit by explosions for the second time in 48 hours. Two peacekeepers were injured. “One of them was transferred to a hospital in Tire and the second is being treated in Naqoura,” UNIFIL said in a statement.
THURSDAY, Israeli troops opened fire on several positions of the international mission and also caused two injuries among the “blue helmets” when they fell from an observation tower at the Naqoura base.
Israel, through its UN ambassador, said its “recommendation” is that the peacekeeping force move five kilometers north “to avoid danger as fighting intensifies and the situation continues. “Along the Blue Line remains unstable due to Hezbollah aggression. »
The army issued a statement on Thursday accusing Hezbollah of operating “in and near civilian areas”, including “areas close to UNIFIL posts” and saying its forces maintain regular communication with the UN mission.
Sánchez’s conviction
Pedro Sánchez takes a new step in the Spanish diplomatic position towards Israel by demanding an end to arms exports to the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. And he did so after meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, and as Israel invaded southern Lebanon and attacked the bases of the United Nations mission there – UNIFIL, formerly UNIFIL, UNIFIL in English.
“I criticize and condemn the attacks suffered by the United Nations mission, UNIFIL, in Lebanon by the Israeli armed forces,” said Sánchez: “We find this absolutely reprehensible, rejectable and which reminds us of the urgency of putting end to the war. violence, that this spiral of violence in Lebanon, Gaza and the West Bank ceases and that we can, once and for all, find the diplomatic path to resolve the conflicts in peaceful terms.
And he added: “I think it is urgent that, in light of everything that is happening in the Middle East, the international community stops the export of arms to the Israeli government. »
In this sense, Sánchez insisted that the government “has not exported any type of weapons or military equipment to Israel since October 7.” [de 2023]”Spain’s position is not to contribute in one way or another to the escalation of violence and war.”
Regarding the export of arms, reports from the Delàs Center show that although commercial operations were closed before October 7, 2023, shipments subsequently took place from Spain, as well as purchases from Israel . These events were denounced by PSOE partners in the government – Sumar – and in Congress – Podemos, EH Bildu, ERC –, who demand an end to diplomatic and commercial relations between Spain and Israel.
