European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell on May 24 denounced the statement by Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz that he had decided to “sever the connection” with Spain’s diplomatic mission over Madrid’s recognition of a Palestinian state. Katz said his decision was made “in response to Spain’s recognition of a Palestinian state and the anti-Semitic call by Spain’s deputy prime minister to ... ‘liberate Palestine from the river to the sea.’”
On May 22, Katz had ordered Israel’s ambassador to Spain to return for consultations, and that the ambassadors of Ireland, Spain and Norway be summoned for a reprimand over their decision to recognize a State of Palestine..
Borrell replied that, “Every time someone takes the decision to support Palestinian state-building, something that everyone in Europe supports, Israel’s reaction is to turn it into an anti-Semitic attack.”
Borrell further urged Israel “not to intimidate” or “threaten” the judges of the International Criminal Court, whose prosecutor has requested arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. “I ask everyone, starting with the Israeli government, but also certain European governments, not to intimidate the judges, not to threaten them,” Borrell said during an interview with Spanish public television TVE, insisting on “respect for the International Criminal Court.” Borrell himself is formerly Spain’s foreign minister.
