Spain halts arms sales to Israel as pressure mounts to cancel contracts

Since October 7, 2023, Spain has suspended its arms sales and purchases with Israel, without any new arms export authorization being granted.

Margarita Robles, Spanish Defense Minister, confirmed that all Israeli arms procurement contracts are currently suspended. However, as reported Público.es As of Tuesday, there are still contracts with the arms industry.

Defense Ministry sources stressed that only the repair of aerospace components, temporarily exported to Israel and returned after repair, was contracted over the past year to maintain the operational capabilities of the Spanish Air Force .

On Tuesday, Pablo Bustinduy, Spain’s Minister of Social Rights, sent a letter to Defense Minister Robles on behalf of five ministers from the Sumar political group, demanding the suspension of all current arms contracts with Israeli companies.

According to Publico.eBustinduy highlighted “certain contracts” which remain active although Spain has not authorized any new arms operations since October 7. Bustinduy stressed that Sumar’s proposal was based on a thorough review aimed at imposing a full arms embargo on Israel beyond simply suspending new licenses. .

Palestinians in front of the rubble of a building destroyed after an Israeli airstrike in the central Gaza Strip, November 5, 2023 (credit: ATIA MOHAMMED/FLASH90)

“We demand that these contracts be canceled immediately,” Bustinduy warned in his letter, reported by El País. He also called for an end to any defense or security agreements linked to the escalations in Gaza and Lebanon. Bustinduy said this would correspond to recent statements by President Pedro Sánchez.

According to El PaísSánchez called on the international community to stop supplying arms to Israel. In Congress, Sánchez said Spain’s arms sales and purchases with Israel had been suspended. However, Público.es noted that it was unclear whether Sánchez was wrong or whether further clarification would follow.

Mixed messages and internal struggle

So far, Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares has said that no new arms export authorizations have been issued to Israel since October 7, although previously authorized deliveries could still have place.

Despite these claims, some reports indicate that previously signed agreements are being respected. El País reported that all arms exchanges that occurred after the suspension were linked to contracts signed before October 7. Although no new contracts have been signed, previously signed agreements continue to be executed, according to Público.es.

A report from the Delàs Peace Studies Center reveals that the Spanish Ministry of Defense has approved defense programs with Israeli companies since October 2022, for a total amount of 1.027 billion euros, as mentioned by El País.

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This includes contracts such as the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (SILAM) for €576.4 million, 168 Spike anti-tank missile launchers for €237.5 million and air combat system components for 207.4 million euros. Some of these programs involve Israeli defense companies Rafael and Elbit, according to Público.es.

However, Bustinduy’s letter, according to El País, insisted that Sumar formally asked Spain to seek “effective measures” to end any operations related to arms sales with Israel. He also asked Spain to end contracts related to Israeli activities in illegal settlements in the Palestinian territories, as reported by Público.es.

Adding to the growing pressure on the Spanish government, El País mentioned that dozens of cultural figures, including filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar and actress Victoria Luengo, wrote to Sánchez, urging him to impose a total arms embargo on Israel. The collective’s call highlights the growing demand for concrete actions in response to the ongoing conflict.

Mixed messages and internal struggle

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