Spanish policy towards the Middle East was determined by the nature of the Francoist regime, and by post-World War II politics.[2] Franco made some overtures towards Israel but short of recognizing the country, not least because the latter's government had no interest in being recognised by such a regime.[3] This outright rejection from the newly created State of Israel towards the Francoist dictatorship was born out of domestic politics and ideological reasons.[4] In 1949, the State of Israel voted against lifting sanctions against Spain in the United Nations General Assembly due to the Francoist regime's sympathy and material support for the Axis Powers.[5] The hostility between both countries paved the way for Spain's fostering of relations with the unaligned Arab nations[6] (nurturing the narrative of the so-called "traditional Hispano-Arab friendship"),[7] which helped Spain to overcome international isolation. A cornerstone of Arab-Spanish friendship was the non-recognition of Israel.[5] In these years, several editions of the antisemitic libel of The Protocols of the Elders of Zion were published in Spain, finding positive reception as factual truth among the most extreme factions of the regime.[8] Despite the lack of diplomatic ties, the Franco government aided in Jewish emigration from Morocco in the 1960s and, during the Six-Day War in 1967, issued laissez-passer documents to Egyptian Jews, enabling them to emigrate.[9]
The pro-Arab views of the previous Francoist regime had created a stance that was very difficult to overcome even after the transition to democracy.[10] The first Spanish government after Franco's death, headed by Adolfo Suárez, declared that it would not recognize Israel unless it withdrew from the West Bank and allowed the creation of a Palestinian state.[11]
With a view to establishing full diplomatic relations with Israel, President of the Government Felipe González, who had been elected on a Socialist platform three years earlier, sent a personal letter to secretary general of the Arab League, Chedli Klibi, on 25 April 1985, advising him of Spain's plans.[16] Following Operation Wooden Leg, the Spanish Government issued a strong condemnation of the attack, putting a temporary hold to the recognition process. Further conversations with ambassadors from Arab states in Madrid followed in January of the next year, advising them of Spain's forthcoming plans. Spain and Israel established diplomatic relations on 17 January 1986.[17] Samuel Hadas was named Israel Ambassador in Madrid.[18] Spain had joined the European Economic Community on 1 January. Soon after, a representative office for the PLO opened in Madrid "as evidence of Spain traditional policy of friendship with the Palestinian people and as an instrument to achieve a lasting, just and global solution to the Israeli-Arab conflict".[19][20]
In 2000, Spain lifted its veto on Israel's admission to the Western European Group of the United Nations, on a basis of permanent renewal of temporary full membership, ending Israel's administrative limbo, as its membership in the Asian Group had been withheld due to the large majority of Muslim countries in the Asian block opposing.[21]
In October 2011, Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and his wife, Princess Letizia, arrived in Israel for a two-day state visit to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations and meet with local scientists.[22]
This prompted the Israeli embassy in Madrid to accuse some of the members within the Spanish government of sympathizing or showing alignment with terrorist groups like ISIS.[24] The Government of Spain issued a counter-communiqué stating that it "categorically" rejected "the falsehoods expressed in the communiqué of the Embassy of Israel about some of its members and does not accept unfounded insinuations about them".[25][26] Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares also called Israeli ambassador Rodica Radian-Gordon, to show his "displeasure" and to tell her that those words were seen as an "unfriendly gesture".[27]
The two leaders issued a joint statement denouncing the "unacceptable" indiscriminate killings of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip, asserting that it was time for the international community and the European Union (EU) to officially recognize the state of Palestine, and called for a lasting ceasefire in the war-torn region.[30] Israel criticized both the prime ministers for not holding Hamas fully accountable for what they termed "crimes against humanity". Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen summoned the ambassadors of Belgium and Spain for a stern reprimand, denouncing what he described as "false claims" supporting terrorism.[31]
Following the visit, Sánchez voiced serious doubts about Israel's adherence to international humanitarian law, referencing distressing footage and the increasing number of children casualties.[32][33] In response to what Israel termed a "shameful statement" by Sanchez, the country recalled its envoy to Madrid.[34][35]
Relations were further injured in 2024 when Spain, announced their intent to recognize Palestine as an independent state by 28 May 2024, leading Israel to recall Radian-Gordon. Netanyahu denounced the move as support for terrorism.[36]
Spanish second deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz ended a speech with the pro-Palestine lemma from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free on 24 May 2024.[37][38] Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz took offence and proceeded to publish a political attack video on X, interspersing images of Hamas members and flamenco dancers, also pledging to block Palestinians' access to services from the Spanish Consulate in Israeli-occupied East Jerusalem [es] (later threatening to outright close it shall it continue providing services to Palestinians).[39][40][41] Albares pointed out that the Consulate has existed since 1853, long before the creation of any State of Israel, and that upon the 1986 establishment of diplomatic relations between both countries, Israel agreed on the recognition and commitment to respecting the "historical status of the Consulate General".[42] Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles deemed what was happening in Gaza to be a "true genocide".[43]
Spanish apparel retailer Zara opened their first store in 1997 in Tel Aviv. As of 2020, Zara has 25 branches in the country.
In 2010, bilateral trade totalled 1.69 billion euros, with 853 million euros of Israeli exports to Spain and 836 million euros of Spanish imports to Israel. José Ranero, the economic and commercial advisor at the Spanish Embassy, said he looked forward to more joint projects, especially in technology.[22]
^Portero Rodríguez, Florentino (2008). "Las relaciones hispano-israelíes". Araucaria. Revista Iberoamericana de Filosofía, Política y Humanidades. 10 (19): 181. hdl:11441/46016. ISSN1575-6823.
Hadas, Samuel (1992–1993). "España e Israel: Quinientos años después". Política Exterior: Revista Bimestrial. 6, Nº 30. Estudios de Politica Exterior. ISSN0213-6856.
Mesa, Roberto (1988). Democracia y política exterior en España. Eudema. ISBN978-84-7754-022-9.
Setton, Guy (2016), Spanish-Israeli Relations, 1956-1992: Ghosts of the Past and Contemporary Challenges in the Middle East. Sussex Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-84519-756-8