From the Liveblog of
Sunday, September 14, 2025
Sa’ar brands Spanish PM a ‘disgrace’ after he praised anti-Israel protesters at Vuelta
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleForeign Minister Gideon Sa’ar calls Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and his government “a disgrace” after the premier praised pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protesters disrupting the Vuelta a España cycling competition in Madrid.
Earlier today, Sanchez said at a party rally that he admired the protesters: “Our respect and recognition for the athletes and our admiration for the Spanish people who are mobilizing for just causes like Palestine.”
After the protesters caused the event’s finale to be abandoned, Sa’ar hits back at Sanchez in a Hebrew-language post on X, writing: “Today [Sanchez] encouraged protesters to take to the streets. The pro-Palestinian mob heard his incitement — and blew up the ‘La Vuelta’ bicycle race.”
“Thus was canceled a sporting event that had always been a source of pride for Spain. Sanchez and his government are a disgrace to Spain!” the foreign minister writes.
Adding to the increasingly harsh rhetoric between Jerusalem and Madrid in recent days, Sa’ar also notes that “A few days ago, the prime minister of Spain expressed regret that he did not have an atomic bomb ‘to stop Israel.’”
Sa’ar refers to Sanchez’s Spanish-language statement last week announcing nine new measures against Israel in protest of its war in Gaza, including a total arms embargo and a ban on Israeli goods from the West Bank. Sanchez remarked that while Spain does not possess nuclear weapons, Madrid will do what it can to “stop the Israeli offensive” in Gaza through the punitive measures.
Spanish Prime Minister @sanchezcastejon expressed regret that Spain “doesn’t have nuclear bombs” to “stop the Israeli offensive. But that doesn’t mean we won't stop trying.”pic.twitter.com/lgCz2ZYJk7
— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) September 11, 2025
Despite activists protesting the participation of the Israel—Premier Tech team at the cycling competition, a member of the team, Matthew Riccitello, was named the Best Young Rider of the competition.
The Times of Israel Community.