Spain Scraps Controversial Arms Deal with Israeli Company Amid Coalition Tensions
Spain has officially canceled a significant order for 153 million rounds of 9mm ammunition from the Israeli company IMI Systems, valued at approximately €66 million. This decision follows intense scrutiny and backlash from junior coalition partners in the government, notably the left-wing Sumar platform, which condemned the arms deal as a clear violation of the coalition agreement. They argued that supporting such a transaction jeopardizes Spain's commitment to holding Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, representing the Socialist Workers' Party, has taken a strong stance against Israel’s conduct during the ongoing conflict in Gaza, particularly criticizing the humanitarian implications of the violence. His government previously recognized Palestine as a state in an effort to support peace in the region. Amid escalating tensions following Hamas's attacks on October 7, 2023, Spain established a policy to neither buy weapons from nor sell weapons to Israel.
Despite the government's commitment to these principles, reports surfaced indicating that the interior ministry was keen on proceeding with the controversial deal. Officials argued that canceling the ammunition order could pose logistical challenges for the Guardia Civil, Spain's national police force, which required the rounds for operational needs.
The announcement of the deal's potential continuation ignited outrage among coalition partners. Yolanda Díaz, the labor minister and leader of the Sumar platform, called for an immediate termination of the contract. The United Left group, aligned with Sumar, expressed their vehement opposition, stating they would not tolerate financing any state accused of genocide—allegations that Israel has categorically denied. These accusations are currently under review by the International Court of Justice, spurred by a complaint from South Africa.
The increasing friction between the Socialists and Sumar has been exacerbated by disagreements over Sánchez's recent plan to allocate €105 billion to fulfill NATO obligations, requiring Spain to allocate 2% of its GDP toward defense spending. Sumar has criticized these defense investments as financially excessive and contradictory to the government's pacifist rhetoric.
In light of the controversy and political pressure, government officials announced on Thursday that the arms contract would be unilaterally canceled and an import license for the ammunition would be denied. The administration declared that all avenues of negotiation regarding the deal had been exhausted and that they were seeking legal counsel on the matter.
Sources within the coalition reaffirmed their commitment to the Palestinian cause and emphasized that Spain would not engage in arms transactions with Israeli companies while maintaining a stance aligned with peace efforts in the Middle East. Additionally, all unfulfilled arms orders from Israel made prior to October 7, 2023, would not be executed as part of this revised policy.
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