Spain's Coalition in Turmoil Over Controversial Arms Deal with Israeli Company
The leftwing junior partners in Spain's socialist-led coalition government have urged the interior ministry to cancel a €66 million order for millions of bullets from an Israeli company, claiming the deal violates coalition agreements and undermines efforts to hold Israel accountable for its actions in Gaza. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been a vocal critic of Israel's military operations in Gaza, expressing concerns about compliance with international humanitarian law and emphasizing the devastating toll on Palestinian lives.
In October 2022, the interior ministry announced the cancellation of an earlier order of 153 million bullets from an Israeli firm due to the government's commitment to halt arms purchases and sales to Israel following the onset of armed conflict in Gaza. However, it was revealed on Wednesday that the procurement of 9mm ammunition intended for the Guardia Civil police force is moving forward, as the interior ministry decided the contract was too advanced and financially prohibitive to cancel.
This apparent reversal has triggered a furious response from the Sumar platform, which was established by Yolanda Díaz, Spain's labor minister and one of the country’s three deputy prime ministers. The platform condemned the contract as a blatant violation of the government's commitment to suspend arms purchases from Israel and called for its immediate cancellation. It also demanded that the socialist interior minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, provide explanations to MPs regarding the situation.
"Our commitment to the Palestinian people is absolute," the platform stated, reiterating calls for a complete embargo on arms purchases from Israel, breaking off diplomatic relations, imposing sanctions, and supporting international criminal court actions against Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Others within Sumar expressed even stronger sentiments. Antonio Maíllo, the federal coordinator of the platform's United Left group, emphasized that his colleagues would not tolerate any part of the government financially supporting what he termed a 'genocidal state.' He described this situation as the worst crisis to date between Sumar and the socialist party.
The announcement that the contract would proceed surfaced a day after Sumar labeled Sánchez’s plans to invest €105 billion to meet NATO commitments—including a target of spending 2% of GDP on defense—as incoherent and excessive. Interior ministry sources indicated that a review of the contract's annulment had been underway for six months before ultimately deciding to proceed based on legal advice. They noted that cancelling the agreement would require compensating the company without receiving the ordered materials, necessary for the Guardia Civil to perform its duties effectively.
Despite the ongoing contract, the interior ministry has maintained that it aligns with the government's broader commitment to refrain from arms dealings with Israel.
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