Israel orders Spain to stop consular services for Palestinians

A man walks outside the municipality building in the West Bank city of Ramallah on May 24, 2024, adorned with flags of Spain, Ireland and Norway. Ireland, Norway and Spain said they would formally recognize the State of Palestine on May 28, drawing praises from Palestinian leaders as well as many countries in the Arab and Muslim world, and fury from Israel. Agence France-Presse

JERUSALEM — Israel’s foreign ministry said Monday it had told the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem to stop offering consular services to Palestinians from June 1 over Madrid’s recognition of a Palestinian state.

The ministry said that Spain’s consulate in Jerusalem is “authorized to provide consular services to residents of the consular district of Jerusalem only, and is not authorized to provide services or perform consular activity vis-a-vis residents of the Palestinian Authority”.

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The directive is effective from June 1, the ministry said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Israel Katz said in a separate statement that “today, I implemented preliminary punitive measures against the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem following the Spanish government’s recognition of a Palestinian state”.

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“We will not put up with harming Israel’s sovereignty and security.”

Spain is one of the European countries that has been most critical of Israel over the war in Gaza.

Last week, Spain, Ireland and Norway announced their decision to recognise the State of Palestine from Tuesday, May 28, drawing a strong rebuke from Israel.