Israeli Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon on July 31 launched a broadside against the Spanish government of Pedro Sánchez for its handling of the country’s migrant crisis, the Times of Israel reported. Israel has been furious with Spain over its recognition of the Palestinian state, its denunciation of Israeli genocide in Gaza, and its refusal to allow its airspace to be used for Israeli-US attacks on Iran.
“Spain, which never misses an opportunity to lecture Israel, has declared a state of emergency in Ceuta following the crisis over its immigration policy,” Danon wrote on X. “Maybe before it continues lecturing us, it’s time it explained to the world why it still maintains colonial enclaves in Africa.”
Spain’s Transportation Minister Óscar Puente Santiago wrote in response: “Well, things are starting to get pretty clear,” echoing widespread comments among Spanish analysts that Morocco had deliberately encouraged the mass wave of migrants, with full backing from the United States and Israel. For example, politician and commentator Carolina Alonso posted on X that the wave of immigrants was “a coordinated attack between Morocco, the United States, and Israel, with the collaboration of the European and Spanish far right… with the intention of [Morocco] annexing Ceuta and Melilla.”
Tensions were high enough between Israel and Spain that Israel’s Ambassador to Spain Dana Erlich chose to publicly distance Jerusalem from Danon’s remarks. “The comment made by Israel’s Ambassador to the UN on the issue does not represent the position of the State of Israel,” Erlich wrote on X.
