Spain cancels military agreement with Israeli defense firm Elbit amid boycott policies

Spain has canceled a major arms agreement with the Israeli defense company Elbit Systems, citing Madrid’s anti-Israel boycott and its opposition to Israel’s military operations against Hamas in Gaza. The deal, reportedly agreed upon two years ago, involved the purchase of PULS precision artillery systems in a joint arrangement with Elbit and two Spanish companies. Elbit held a 20% stake in the agreement, which is valued at around €700 million (approximately $826 million).

The Israeli-made PULS system allows a military to launch various types of rockets from a single platform, depending on operational needs. Elbit has previously exported this technology to European NATO member states, including the Netherlands, Germany, and Denmark.

Three months ago, Spain decided to suspend a deal worth NIS 1 billion (approximately $300 million) for the purchase of Spike anti-tank missiles from Israeli defense company Rafael.

Madrid’s latest move comes after Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared a complete arms embargo on Israel last week.

Sánchez stated that Madrid seeks to “stop the genocide in Gaza, pursue its perpetrators, and support the Palestinian population.”

Like several other European countries, Spain also declared Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir persona non grata in Spain due to their alleged support for “genocide” in Gaza. 

Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar dismissed the Spanish defense embargo as self-destructive. 

“If they want to halt defense connections with Israel, who do you think will lose from that?” Sa’ar asked rhetorically. “We don’t need Spain to protect the land of Israel. They probably need Israeli capabilities much more than we need them.”

Ben Gvir also responded in a post in Spanish on 𝕏, stating, "Don't let me in, give free entrance to Spain for the people in Gaza.”

Spain also decided to recall its ambassador from Tel Aviv for consultations after Israel accused the Spanish government of spreading antisemitism. Israel already recalled its ambassador from Madrid. 

Sánchez recently became the first Western leader to issue what was perceived as a veiled military threat against the Jewish state. 

“Spain does not have nuclear bombs, aircraft carriers, or large oil reserves, and on its own it cannot stop the Israeli attack,” he stated. 

“Spanish PM Sanchez said yesterday that Spain can’t stop Israel’s battle against Hamas terrorists because ‘Spain does not have nuclear weapons.’ That’s a blatant genocidal threat on the world’s only Jewish State,” Netanyahu responded. 

The Foreign Ministry in Madrid quickly denied that Spain had threatened Israel, stating that “the Spanish people are friends of the people of Israel as of the people of Palestine.”

However, Spain has a long history of antisemitism that culminated with the Inquisition and expulsion of Spanish Jewry in 1492. Despite its current small Jewish population, Spain is ranked among the most antisemitic countries in Western Europe.

Some 10 million citizens (26% of Spain’s total population) harbor antisemitic views, according to a poll conducted by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), an American-based organization dedicated to fighting antisemitism and bigotry worldwide. 

Spain only recognized Israel’s existence in 1986, making it one of the last Western countries to recognize the Jewish state nearly four decades after its rebirth in 1948. 

Last May, Spain joined Ireland and Norway in unilaterally recognizing a Palestinian state. The Israeli government condemned the diplomatic move, arguing that it rewards Hamas terrorism and the Oct. 7 massacre of 1,200 Israelis and the kidnapping of 251 people from southern Israel. 

Spain argued at the time that the purpose of its diplomatic move was to advance peace in the Middle East. However, Spain’s far-left Deputy Prime Minister, Yolanda Diaz, used the infamous slogan, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” in a video message.

The slogan is widely seen as antisemitic as it calls for Israel’s destruction and the establishment of “Palestine” on the total territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. 

Former Israeli foreign minister and now Defense Minister Israel Katz condemned Diaz and accused her of joining Israel’s enemies. 

Germany has outlawed the slogan as antisemitic, as it calls for murder of Jews.