Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez faces global backlash for comments implying the use of nuclear weapons against Israel as allegations of antisemitism and political opportunism intensify. The socialist leader, who came to power in 2018, was accused by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of making a ‘blatant genocidal threat to the world’s only Jewish state.’ In a speech last week, Sánchez said Spain lacks nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers, or large oil reserves and that the country alone cannot stop the Israeli offensive. His remarks have sparked controversy, with Spanish critics calling the comments inflammatory and dangerous, while Jewish groups condemned the remarks as antisemitic.
Netanyahu accused Sánchez of making a grave threat, stating, ‘Apparently, the Spanish Inquisition, the expulsion of the Jews of Spain and the systematic mass murder of Jews in the Holocaust, is not enough for Sanchez.’ The Spanish foreign ministry responded to the accusations, calling them ‘false and slanderous,’ and reiterating its commitment to Israel. The ministry stated it condemned the Hamas attack on October 7 and demanded the unconditional release of all hostages from the outset. However, the accusation from Netanyahu has triggered a fierce response, with Sánchez and his supporters denying any intent to threaten Israel and emphasizing the non-nuclear stance of Spain.
A spokesman for the Spanish embassy in Washington referred the allegations to a statement from the foreign ministry, which denied the seriousness of the accusations. The ministry’s position is that it is committed to supporting Israel and opposing all forms of antisemitism, and it emphasized its support for a two-state solution as the only path to peace between Israel and Palestine. Nonetheless, critics argue that Sánchez’s comments reflect a broader pattern of antisemitism in certain factions of Spanish politics, particularly within his coalition of socialists and communists.
Juan Caldes, the European advocacy coordinator for the European Jewish Association, accused Sanchez of hypocrisy, pointing out that his criticism of Israel is linked to political opportunism, such as avoiding discussions on personal corruption scandals surrounding him. Caldes also cited Yolanda Diaz, the vice president of Spain, who previously made controversial statements advocating for a ‘one-state solution’ erasing all Jews from the land. These comments have been interpreted as a form of antisemitism, even as Spain’s government denies any such intent and emphasizes the support it extends to the Jewish community.
Santiago Abascal, the leader of the right-wing Vox Party, called for Sánchez to have nuclear weapons, but only to defend Hamas. This has further fueled tensions, as Sánchez’s coalition continues to face political and public scrutiny over its policies toward Israel and the broader Middle East. According to a report from the Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain, antisemitic incidents increased dramatically last year, which highlights the growing concern about the treatment of Jewish communities in the country.
The Jewish Agency for Israel reported that the Spanish Jewish community, which numbers around 12,900, is a small but significant part of the country’s population. Despite the reported rise in antisemitic speech, the Spanish government has taken steps to combat such incidents, including the adoption of the IHRA (International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance) definition of antisemitism and the launch of a national plan against antisemitism in 2023.