Israel prohibits the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem from “serving Palestinians in the West Bank”

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The Israeli Government attributes the decision to the recognition of the State of Palestine and Díaz’s “anti-Semitic” statements

24 (EUROPA PRESS)

The Government of Israel announced this Friday its decision to “cut the connection between the representation of Spain in Israel and the Palestinians” and “prohibit” the Consulate in Jerusalem from providing services to Palestinians residing in the West Bank after the recognition of the State of Palestine. , which will come into force on May 28, and the “anti-Semitic” statements of the second vice president of the Government, Yolanda Díaz, who used a video in support of the recognition of the Palestinian State using the expression “from the river to the sea.”

“In response to the recognition of the Palestinian State by Spain and the anti-Semitic statements of the Vice President of the Government not only to recognize a Palestinian State but to ‘liberate Palestine from the river to the sea’, I have decided to sever the connection between the representation of Spain in Israel and the Palestinians and prohibit the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem from providing services to the Palestinians of the West Bank,” said Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz.

Likewise, he has stressed, in reference to Díaz, that “if this ignorant and hateful person wants to understand what radical Islam really seeks, he should study the 700 years of Islamic rule in Al Andalus, today Spain,” according to a published message in your account on the social network X.

The Consulate General, created in 1853, is currently headed by Alfonso Lucini and is responsible for relations with the Palestinian Authority, while serving as a consular office for the entire city of Jerusalem, as well as the West Bank and Gaza Strip. . The building is located in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood of East Jerusalem.

Katz’s decision comes a day after the Israeli ambassador to Spain, Rodica Radian-Gordon, who has been called for consultations by the Israeli Government following Madrid’s announcement on the recognition of the State of Palestine, charged against Díaz for his statements and express his “total rejection” of said statements.

On Wednesday, Díaz published a video on the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), which left nearly 1,200 dead and about 240 kidnapped, according to official figures.

The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, announced on Wednesday that Madrid will recognize the State of Palestine next Tuesday, a step taken on the same day as Norway and Ireland and that has unleashed harsh criticism from Israel and applause from the authorities. Palestinians, Hamas and the countries and blocs of the Middle East region.