After "From the River to the Sea" Remark, Spain’s Diplomatic Representative Summoned for Reprimand

Diplomatic tensions between Jerusalem and Madrid are escalating: At the instruction of Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, Spain’s diplomatic representative in Israel, Francisca Pedrós, was summoned today (Monday) for a reprimand meeting at the Foreign Ministry. The meeting was held by Gilad Cohen, head of the ministry’s political-strategic division.

The move followed remarks by Spain’s youth minister, Sira Rego, who said that the public in Spain supports the establishment of a Palestinian state "from the river to the sea." The Foreign Ministry said the slogan means the erasure of the State of Israel, linking the statement to policies promoted by Spain’s government under Pedro Sánchez.

Rego, who grew up in the village of Anata near Jerusalem, has previously been known as a supporter of Hamas and has accused Israel of genocide. The Foreign Ministry also noted that she refrained from condemning the October 7 massacre, and that she was barred from entering Israel in September 2025.

The ministry argued that her remarks do not stand alone, but rather reflect the political direction being led by the government in Madrid and, in its view, its support for a vision that threatens Israel’s very existence.

Sa’ar himself sharply criticized the Spanish government. According to him, instead of standing with the fight against terrorism and threats to Israel’s security, Spain "has turned the State of Israel into the punching bag of its foreign policy." The foreign minister further claimed that Madrid is actively taking part in a campaign directed against Israel and its existence.

The current clash comes amid a prolonged period of strained relations between the two countries, as Spain’s government has leveled sharp criticism at Israeli policy and worked to advance recognition of a Palestinian state.