Almost a week after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced the decision to recognize the State of Palestine as of May 28, tensions with Israel remain more heated than ever. This Monday, the Israeli government warned Madrid that "the times of the Inquisition are over" and that the country "will do harm" to those who harm it.

"The days of the Inquisition are over. Today, the Jewish people have a sovereign and independent State and no one will force us to convert our religion or threaten our existence: we will do harm to those who harm us", said the Israeli Foreign Minister, Israel Katz, in a statement where he announced that he had ordered the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem to close its services to Palestinians as of June 1.

On the social network X (formerly Twitter), Katz argued that Israel "will not remain silent in the face of a government that rewards terrorism and whose leaders, Pedro Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz, chant the anti-Semitic slogan 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'".

"Those who reward Hamas and try to create a Palestinian terrorist state will not have any contact with the Palestinians," he added.

Esta mañana he ordenado al @IsraelMFA que envíe una nota diplomática a la Embajada de España en Israel, prohibiendo al consulado español en Jerusalén realizar actividades consulares o prestar servicios consulares a residentes de la Autoridad Palestina.

No permaneceremos callados… pic.twitter.com/TXdXKpAdS1

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 27, 2024

In another post, the minister argued that "the Israeli people and the Spanish people are friendly peoples", but they are being separated by the rulers. "We will not allow you to separate us, neither you Pedro Sánchez and Yolanda Díaz, nor the members of your government", he reiterated.

El pueblo israelí y el pueblo español son pueblos amigos. No permitiremos que nos separaréis ni tú, @sanchezcastejon y @Yolanda_Diaz_, ni los miembros de tu gobierno. pic.twitter.com/lVHZ5v84UU

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 27, 2024

Last week, Yolanda Díaz, Minister of Labor and number three in the Spanish government, was criticized by Israel for having stated that "Palestine will be free from the river to the sea", a phrase linked to Palestinian nationalism, which does not recognize the State of Israel.

"Today we celebrate that Spain has recognized the Palestinian State (...). We cannot stop. Palestine will be free from the river to the sea", said Díaz in a video posted on social media.

At the time, the Israeli Foreign Ministry considered it "a shame that the Deputy Prime Minister of Spain has openly called for the destruction of Israel". 

El reconocimiento del Estado palestino es una cuestión de derechos humanos y legalidad internacional.

La situación en Palestina nos obliga a no quedarnos aquí. Tenemos que seguir trabajando para acabar con el genocidio y conseguir un alto el fuego. pic.twitter.com/Tk3fKZw5V2

— Yolanda Díaz (@Yolanda_Diaz_) May 22, 2024

On Sunday, Katz shared a video montage on social media, showing two people dancing flamenco, followed by images allegedly captured by militiamen from the Islamist movement Hamas during the attack on October 7, 2023.

The video is accompanied by a message in the center, which reads "Hamas: Thank you Spain", alluding to the idea that Spain's recognition of the State of Palestine would benefit the movement considered terrorism.

.@sanchezcastejon, Hamas thanks you for your service. pic.twitter.com/Pkdp5diHRX

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 26, 2024

The publication of the video was criticized by the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, who classified it as "scandalous and execrable".

"I saw the video, even before traveling to Brussels [...], it is scandalous and execrable. The whole world knows, including my Israeli colleague that we condemned Hamas and its actions", said José Manuel Albares, in a joint press conference with the Prime Minister of the Palestinian Authority, Mohammad Mustafa, in Brussels (Belgium).

It should be noted that Palestine is currently recognized by 143 countries and tomorrow, Tuesday, Spain, Ireland and Norway will proceed with the recognition.

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