As of June 1, Israel prohibits Spain from offering consular companies to Palestinians within the West Bank | EUROtoday

The Israeli Foreign Ministry ordered this Monday the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem to cease offering consular companies beginning June 1 to Palestinians “residents under the Palestinian Authority”, that’s, within the occupied West Bank, in retaliation for the recognition of the Palestinian state.

In a diplomatic word despatched to the Embassy, ​​the Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, formalizes this prohibition that he already introduced on Friday as punishment for recognition by Spain of the Palestinian State, which is able to develop into official tomorrowand the statements of Vice President Yolanda Díaz, who closed a speech with the pro-Palestinian slogan “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free”, which Israel considers anti-Semitic.

“We are in the year 2024, the days of the Inquisition are over. Today we Jews have a sovereign and independent State and no one will force us to convert our religion or threaten our existence. Whoever harms us, we will harm“Katz said in an announcement by which he formally introduced the primary “punitive measures against Spain.”

According to those measures, Israel prohibits the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem from “carrying out consular activities or providing consular services to residents under the Palestinian Authority,” though it clarified that The measure doesn’t apply to folks with Spanish nationality.

Spain has its embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv, however maintains since earlier than 1948 a Consulate in Jerusalemwhich for many years has functioned as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians and maintains diplomatic relations with the Palestinian National Authority (PNA).

This ban should come into impact on June 1, 2024, and if not, the ministry “take additional measures.”

“Today I have applied preliminary punitive measures against the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem, which I decided after the recognition by the Spanish government of a 'Palestinian State' as a gift to the murderers of Hamas and the serious anti-Semitic incitement of its leaders against the existence of the State of Israel,” stated Minister Katz.

Spain introduced final Tuesday, along with Ireland and Norway, the popularity of the Palestinian State, which they are going to formalize tomorrow, which provoked the anger of Israel, which instantly known as its ambassadors in these three nations for consultations, and known as for a “reprimand.” to their diplomatic representatives.

More than 140 nations acknowledge the Palestinian Stateeight of them European – Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, Cyprus and Sweden – in addition to nearly all Arab nations or these traditionally linked to the non-aligned motion.

In addition, Palestine is a full member of the Arab League, the Non-Aligned Movement, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation or UNESCO; whereas within the UN it’s an observer state, though the General Assembly voted this month in favor of enhancing its standing.