Spanish parliament rejects motions against Israel

By Senhan Bolelli

MADRID (AA) - The Spanish parliament did not approve anti-Israel motions, which included articles such as "severing diplomatic relations and imposing an arms embargo."

The parliament voted on a proposal submitted by the far-left Podemos party, which includes political, military, and economic sanctions against Israel for its attacks on Gaza, and another submitted by the Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE), the senior partner of the minority left-wing coalition government, which includes much more softened decisions against Israel.

Of the six articles put to a vote Thursday night, only "doubling efforts to ensure the inflow of humanitarian aid to Gaza and the increase of aid and the sending of jointly coordinated aid within the EU" was adopted.

The article on the immediate cessation of arms trade with Israel -- which the PSOE and Sumar alliance in the coalition government also voted in favor -- was rejected by 176 votes to 166, with the opposition right-wing People's Party (PP), the far-right Vox, and the Together for Catalonia (Junts) parties, which support the government from outside, voting against.

Only the Podemos, Sumar, and EH Bildu parties voted in favor of the motion to "suspend diplomatic relations with Israel until it ends its aggression in Gaza and the West Bank." This motion was also rejected by 310 votes to 37.

Vox was the only political party to vote against all anti-Israel motions.

Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares shared a message on social media about the Israeli attack on civilians waiting for humanitarian aid in Gaza on Thursday, in which more than 110 people were killed.

"The unacceptable nature of what happened in Gaza, with dozens of Palestinian civilians killed while waiting for food, underlines the urgency of a cease-fire. Humanitarian aid must be able to enter unhindered. Compliance with international humanitarian law is imperative," he said.

* Writing by Zeynep Cetin in Istanbul.