Israel Summons Spanish Envoy Over Minister's 'River to Sea' Statehood Remarks

Israel summoned the Spanish Chargé d'Affaires, Francisca Pedrós, on Monday for an official reprimand following statements by Spanish Youth Minister Sira Rego advocating for a Palestinian state "from the river to the sea." The summons was conducted by Gilad Cohen, Deputy Director General for Political and Strategic Affairs at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Jerusalem views Rego's remarks as indicative of a broader Spanish government policy that is highly critical of Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry stated that the phrase "from the river to the sea," referring to the territory between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, implies the elimination of Israel as a state.

The expression "from the river to the sea" is subject to widely differing interpretations. Some pro-Palestinian activists use it to call for equality and freedom across the territory, while Israel and many Jewish organizations consider it incompatible with the existence of the State of Israel.

Sira Rego, a member of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's government, has a Palestinian father and Spanish mother. She has consistently supported the Palestinian cause and opposed Israeli policy, including stating after the October 7th Hamas attacks that Palestinians have a "right to resist after decades of occupation." She also previously shared posts calling for the expulsion of the Israeli diplomatic mission from Spain.

Relations between Jerusalem and Madrid have been strained for years, particularly concerning the Gaza war and Spain's stance on Palestinian issues. In September 2025, Israel had previously banned Rego and another Spanish government member from entering the country.