Spain cancels Israeli arms deal following coalition pressure
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Spain unilaterally cancels a $7.8 million bullet contract with Israeli firm IMI Systems, following political turmoil over "Israel's" ongoing war on Gaza.
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Pro-Palestinian demonstrators attend a protest against Israeli attacks on Gaza, in Pamplona, northern Spain, on Saturday, June 8, 2024 (AP)
Spain has unilaterally cancelled a multi-million-dollar arms deal with Israeli defense firm IMI Systems, following intense political pressure and concerns over "Israel’s" war on Gaza, AFP reported Thursday, citing government sources.
The deal, worth 6.8 million euros ($7.8 million), was intended to supply bullets to the Spanish Civil Guard, but the government announced Thursday that negotiations to terminate the contract had failed, prompting unilateral action.
'Blatant violation' of Spain’s commitment
The contract had sparked a political storm within Spain’s Socialist-led government, particularly from the far-left coalition partner Sumar, which condemned the deal as a "blatant violation" of Spain’s commitment to halt arms trade with "Israel" during the ongoing war on Gaza.
Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Diaz of Sumar had demanded the immediate cancellation of the IMI Systems bullet contract, citing humanitarian concerns.
After exhausting negotiation efforts, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, along with Diaz and relevant ministries, agreed to cancel the contract unilaterally.
"The investment board for dual-use material will deny this company permission to import this equipment to our country for reasons of general interest and, immediately afterwards, the interior ministry will terminate the contract," government sources indicated, as cited by AFP.
Spain halted weapons transactions with "Israel" in response to the Gaza war, which broke out on October 7, 2023.
The war has resulted in over 51,000 martyrs in the Palestinian territory, prompting Spain and other nations to reassess their military and diplomatic ties with "Israel".
Legal challenges expected following contract cancellation
The Spanish Interior Ministry initially expressed caution over cancelling the contract, warning that termination at this late stage might result in financial penalties, as the state could be required to pay without receiving the ammunition.
The Spanish Civil Guard ammunition deal had already reached an advanced stage of processing.
According to the sources, government legal services are now examining potential legal repercussions and preparing for possible disputes with IMI Systems.
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