Report: Spain reneges on $325 million purchase of anti-tank missiles from Israel’s Rafael

Spain cancels another arms deal with Israel, as Madrid calls for international sanctions on the Jewish state.

The Spanish Defense Ministry will not go through with its planned purchase of Spike anti-tank missiles from Rafael, says the Ara daily newspaper, a deal worth $325 million (NIS 1.15 billion).

The deal was finalized four days before the October 7, 2023, massacre by Hamas.

Rafael says in response that it was unaware of the deal being canceled.

In April, Spain canceled an order for 15 million bullets from Israel.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told reporters recently that Spain would request the “immediate suspension” of the European Union’s cooperation deal with Israel, and would also urge partners to impose an arms embargo on Israel.

Spain is a long-time critic of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, and outraged Jerusalem by recognizing Palestinian statehood in May 2024. Tensions escalated last month when Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called Israel a “genocidal state” while speaking in the Spanish parliament.