Israel bars Spanish consulate in Jerusalem from serving West Bank Palestinians from June 1

The Foreign Ministry has informed the Spanish Embassy in Israel that starting from June 1, the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem will no longer be permitted to provide services to Palestinians from the West Bank, Foreign Minister Israel Katz says.

In a letter issued by the Foreign Ministry to the Spanish embassy, it notes the “Spanish Government’s decision to recognise the ‘State of Palestine’ and the inciteful and hateful antisemitic statements made by senior Spanish officials” as the reason for the policy change.

“As of 1 June 2024, the Consulate General of Spain in Jerusalem may provide consular services strictly to residents of the consular district of Jerusalem,” the letter states. “The Consulate General, or anyone on its behalf, may not provide services to residents of the Palestinian Authority, nor may it perform any consular or other functions outside the district of Jerusalem, without prior written consent from the Ministry.”

The letter notes that the policy does not apply to consular services for Spanish citizens in the West Bank.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Katz vows that “those who reward Hamas and attempt to establish a Palestinian terror state will have no contact with the Palestinians.”

“The days of the Inquisition are over,” he adds. “Today, the Jewish people have a sovereign and independent state, and no one will force us to convert our religion or threaten our existence – those who harm us, we will harm in return.”

This morning, I instructed the @IsraelMFA to send a diplomatic note to the Spanish Embassy in Israel, prohibiting the Spanish consulate in Jerusalem from conducting consular activities or providing consular services to residents of the Palestinian Authority.

We will not remain… pic.twitter.com/Ewx9Wwux7L

— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 27, 2024