Spain formally dismisses ambassador to Israel amid tensions with Tel Aviv

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The Spanish government officially relieved the ambassador to Israel, Ana Sálomon, of her duties. The decision was announced in the official state journal on Tuesday after being approved at the last Council of Ministers.

With this measure, Spain will leave its embassy in Tel Aviv without an ambassador and maintain its diplomatic representation at the level of chargé d’affaires, a rank below that of ambassador. The decision has been interpreted as a gesture of reciprocity after Israel previously adopted a similar measure with its diplomatic mission in Madrid.

Sálomon was recalled from Tel Aviv in September after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced measures aimed at stopping what he described as a genocide in Gaza, where Israel has waged a devastating war following the 7 October 2023 attacks by the Palestinian militant group Hamas in southern Israel.

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar subsequently accused Sánchez of antisemitism and barred two of his ministers from entering Israel, pushing already strained relations between the two countries to new lows.

Israel has not had an ambassador to Spain since 2024.

After Spain officially recognised a Palestinian state, Israel decided in May 2024 to recall its then ambassador to Madrid, Rodica Radian-Gordon.

After her departure, a replacement was expected to be appointed. However, the person initially selected later resigned to take up another diplomatic post, and Benjamin Netanyahu’s government did not appoint a new ambassador.

Since then, Israel’s ambassadorial post to Spain has been vacant. The diplomatic representation in Madrid is currently headed by Chargé d’Affaires Dana Erlich.