Spain will ask the European Union on Tuesday to fully suspend its association agreement with Israel, arguing that the Israeli government is “violating international law”, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced.
Speaking during an election rally in Andalusia, Sánchez said the Spanish government would submit a formal proposal to the EU calling for the cancellation of the agreement.
“This Tuesday, the Spanish government will present a proposal in Europe for the European Union to cancel the association agreement with Israel,” Sánchez said, adding that a government “that violates international law (…) cannot be a partner of the European Union.”
“It is that simple,” he added.
The EU–Israel Association Agreement, which entered into force in 2000, includes a clause linking the partnership to respect for human rights.
Spain first raised concerns about the agreement in February 2024, when Sánchez and Ireland’s then prime minister sent a joint letter to the European Commission.
The letter requested an assessment of whether Israel was respecting its human rights obligations following the outbreak of the war in Gaza.
Since then, Sánchez has gradually toughened his position on the issue, particularly in relation to the war in Lebanon, leading up to his latest announcement.
The statement follows a letter sent to the European Commission on Friday by Ireland, Slovenia and Spain requesting that the EU–Israel association agreement be examined at the next meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council.