Spain Urges EU to Maintain Unified Stance on Israel to Preserve Credibility, Calls for Consistency with Russia Policy

Spain’s foreign minister has warned that the European Union risks losing credibility if it fails to apply the same principles to Israel’s actions in the Middle East as it does to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Speaking in a video interview published by Al Jazeera on April 21, 2026, the Spanish foreign minister urged EU member states to adopt a consistent approach, citing human rights clauses in the EU-Israel association agreement and criticising ongoing violence in Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon.

He argued that the EU’s credibility is at stake unless it takes a unified stance on Israel, emphasizing that the bloc must uphold its own values and legal commitments consistently across different conflicts.

The warning comes amid renewed efforts by Spain to suspend the EU-Israel association agreement, a move that has gained limited support among member states. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez previously called for breaking the agreement, accusing Israel of violating international law and the terms of the deal.

However, diplomatic sources indicate that the initiative lacks the unified position required to proceed. Countries such as Germany and Italy have maintained their opposition, with Italy advocating for a balanced approach that avoids negative consequences for the Israeli civilian population.