Spain Removes Ambassador to Israel…

Madrid — Spain has formally removed its ambassador to Israel, marking a significant downgrade in diplomatic relations between the two countries.

The decision was published in Spain’s official state bulletin on Wednesday. Following the move, Spain’s embassy in Tel Aviv will remain open but will be headed by a chargé d’affaires instead of a full ambassador, effectively lowering the level of diplomatic representation.

Tensions between Spain and Israel have been rising over the past year, largely due to disagreements over Israel’s military operations in Gaza and broader Middle East policy. Spanish officials have repeatedly criticized Israeli actions during the ongoing conflict, drawing sharp responses from Israeli leaders.

The diplomatic dispute intensified after earlier confrontations between the governments, including the recall of Spain’s ambassador for consultations and exchanges of criticism between senior officials from both countries.

Despite the removal of the ambassadorial post, Spain has not closed its embassy in Tel Aviv, and diplomatic communication between the two nations is expected to continue through lower-level channels.

The development underscores widening divisions among some European governments over policy toward Israel and the wider conflict in the Middle East.