Spain's Envoy Summoned After Minister's 'River to the Sea' Remark

Spain's acting ambassador to Israel, Francisca Pedro, was summoned to the Foreign Ministry for a reprimand by Gilad Cohen, head of the diplomatic-strategic division. The directive came from Foreign Minister G Gideon Saar, following a statement by Spanish Minister of Childhood and Youth Sira Rego. Rego declared that the Spanish public supports a Palestinian state "from the river to the sea," a slogan that can be interpreted as a call for Israel's elimination.

While this summons is an unusual step by the Foreign Ministry, Rego's statement is not out of step with the current political climate in Spain, which has seen systematic anti-Israel policies under Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. In March, Spain decided its ambassador to Israel would not return, downgrading relations to charge d'affaires level without ambassadors.

Rego's remarks were not surprising given her consistent anti-Israel stance and denial of Hamas atrocities from October 7. She was born in Valencia in 1973 and grew up near Jerusalem, where her Palestinian father still resides. On the morning of October 7, she posted on social media that "Palestine has the right to resist after decades of occupation, apartheid, and exile."

Furthermore, Rego was one of only 21 European parliament members out of 705 who refused to condemn the Hamas massacre. She has accused Israel of "genocide," denied Hamas beheaded babies, raped women, and murdered hundreds at the Nova music festival, and her social media is filled with anti-Israel content. Spain was the only European country whose representatives walked out of the UN General Assembly before Prime Minister Netanyahu's speech.

In May 2024, Spain, along with other nations, decided to recognize a Palestinian state. Last September, Spain announced a total arms embargo on Israel, stating it was to "stop the genocide in Gaza and support the Palestinian population."