Spain Removes Ambassador to Israel

The government of Spain has removed its ambassador to Israel, according to a decision published Wednesday in the official state gazette.

Following the move, Spain’s embassy in Tel Aviv will be led by a chargé d’affaires, a source at the Spanish Foreign Ministry said.

The decision comes during heightened diplomatic tensions related to the ongoing conflict involving Iran.

Despite recent tensions, Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares said relations with the United States remain stable.

“Our embassy in Washington is operating normally and has all the contacts it should have as usual,” Albares told reporters, adding that the same applies to the U.S. embassy in Madrid.

The left-wing government of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez drew criticism from Donald Trump after rejecting the war against Iran as reckless and illegal.

Madrid also banned U.S. aircraft from using jointly operated military bases in southern Spain for operations targeting Tehran.

Trump warned on March 3 that Washington could impose a full trade embargo on Spain.

He also cited Spain’s refusal to meet NATO’s new defense spending target of 5% of national output as another point of dispute.