A pro-Israel advocacy group in Spain denounced the ‘’unacceptable interference’’ of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez who ‘’abused his post and institutional position in the Socialist International’’ to publish a video that criticises the government of Israel in matters of domestic politics.
In the video aired at Saturday’s protest in Tel Aviv against judicial reform, Sanchez said: “Dear Israeli friends, we as Socialist International have always fought for freedom, equality, justice and democracy. Yet, as many of you always know, these are values that we cannot take for granted and that we have to promote and defend on a daily basis.
“As such, now and always the Socialist International stands in solidarity with the people of Israel. Dear friends, you will always find us in the fight for democracy.”
According to Madrid-based Action and Communication on the Middle East (ACOM), ‘’a domestic, democratic, and live process as is the current judicial reform in Israel has to be taken on by the Israeli society and its legitimate democratic representatives.’’ ‘’In no case by foreign actors, guided by their insufferable arrogance and a shameful desire to be the protagonists. Can you imagine the Israeli government interfering in the situation of the Spanish Constitutional Court or General Council of the Judiciary?,’’ the group added.
ACOM said: ‘’Mr Sanchez is the same political fraudster who has continually been blocking in Parliament the legislation that would prevent the public financing of antisemitic organisations, the same President who continues to transfer funds to the Palestinian Authority to reward the terrorists who slaughter Israeli citizens, citizens whom he dares to guide and teach.’’
‘’He is the leader of a government formed by the most antisemitic parties in the European Union,’’ it said, citing an EU-ranking of political parties on Israel published last week by the European Coalition for Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen has condemned the Spanish premier’s video.
“For the opponents of the reform, there are no red lines, including the attempt to harm [Israel’s] international status,” Cohen tweeted on April 29. “No foreign entity will decide for the public in Israel, and I am sure that Sanchez has no such intention. As someone who supports the reform, I have no doubt that it will strengthen democracy and balance the [government]branches,” he said.