Netanyahu Featured on Spanish Election Poster Alongside World Leaders

Ahead of Spain's snap parliamentary elections on November 29, the Socialist Party of Catalonia (PSC), an ally of Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has launched a campaign featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu appears on a campaign poster alongside U.S. President Donald Trump, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, and other politicians whom Sánchez's allies portray as threats to democratic values. The poster, intended to encourage voter turnout, warns that abstaining from voting could empower the depicted leaders. The campaign's slogan in Catalan translates to "If you don't go, they rule."

Netanyahu's inclusion is linked to Sánchez's increasingly critical stance on Israel, particularly following the outbreak of the Gaza war. Spain recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024 and Sánchez has since accused Israel of "genocide" in Gaza, accusations Israel has rejected, criticizing Sánchez for a one-sided approach and for ignoring Hamas's responsibility for initiating the conflict. These disagreements have significantly strained diplomatic relations between Spain and Israel.

During a campaign event on November 7, Sánchez stated that Spain's future should be determined solely by its citizens, not by decisions made in Washington, Tel Aviv, Buenos Aires, or Moscow. He warned against the rise of international right-wing political forces, asserting that Spain should not become dependent on foreign leaders' political interests. This rhetoric frames the upcoming election as a struggle against a broader international political movement, placing Netanyahu alongside Trump and Putin despite their differing political systems and interests.

Spain's early elections, called by Sánchez in October, are a critical test for his leadership. Polls suggest the conservative People's Party leads the Socialists, but may require support from the far-right Vox party to form a majority, a scenario causing concern for Sánchez's supporters. The Socialists aim to mobilize the left-wing electorate, some of whom are disillusioned with the government's domestic policies on issues like the housing crisis and corruption. The use of foreign policy, specifically the conflict with Israel, serves as a tactic to draw attention to the campaign and highlight an ideological divide between the Socialists and right-wing forces, despite Netanyahu's non-involvement in Spanish domestic politics.