Overview
- Spain ended Ambassador Ana María Sálomon Pérez’s posting on March 10, with the order proposed by Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and signed by King Felipe VI, according to the official gazette.
- The embassy in Tel Aviv will operate under a chargé d’affaires for the foreseeable future, reflecting a formal downgrade in representation.
- Israel’s mission in Madrid has been led by a chargé d’affaires since its 2024 recall following Spain’s recognition of Palestinian statehood.
- The move caps a series of steps by Madrid that began with a September 2025 recall over Spain’s ban on arms transit to Israel and an October parliamentary law enshrining a permanent arms embargo.
- Madrid’s stance against Israel’s Gaza campaign and recent U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran has drawn sharp U.S. criticism, with President Donald Trump threatening to cut trade and Senator Lindsey Graham condemning the decision.