Spain's Sanchez calls on EU to suspend 'Israel' free trade agreement
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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez affirms that there will be "no withdrawal" of the UN peacekeeping force (UNIFIL) from South Lebanon.
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Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives for a European Union Summit in Brussels, Belgium on March 21, 2024. (AP)
On Monday, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on fellow European Union members to support Madrid and Ireland's request to suspend the bloc's free trade agreement with "Israel" due to its actions in Gaza and Lebanon.
Spain and Ireland have been engaging in discussions with other EU nations for months, pushing for a review of the EU-"Israel" Association Agreement, citing potential violations of the agreement's human rights clause by "Israel".
Spain's PM Sanchez calls for halting arms sales to 'Israel'
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on the international community two days ago to halt arms sales to "Israel", as reported by AFP.
"Given the current events in the Middle East, it is urgent that the international community cease arms exports to the Israeli government," Sanchez stated after meeting with Pope Francis in Rome.
He further expressed his disapproval, saying, "I want to criticize and condemn the attacks by the Israeli armed forces on the United Nations mission in Lebanon."
No withdrawal of UN peacekeeping force: Sanchez
In a related context, Sanchez stated on Monday that there will be "no withdrawal" of the UN peacekeeping force from South Lebanon, despite Israeli attacks and calls for their departure.
The UNIFIL force, which has been deployed in Lebanon since 1978 and consists of about 9,500 troops from around 50 nations, is currently led by a Spanish general. In recent days, it has reported several Israeli attacks that have resulted in injuries to five of its personnel, prompting international condemnation.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged the UN forces to withdraw. In response, Sanchez condemned Netanyahu's request, affirming that "there will be no withdrawal of UNIFIL."
He reiterated Spain's commitment to a UN Security Council resolution that strengthened the force's role in 2006, stating that only the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers should operate in South Lebanon. Sanchez added that this commitment "makes more sense today than ever" given the current situation on the ground.
Sanchez has been a vocal critic of the Netanyahu government's military actions in Gaza.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's comments came as "Israel" is conducting genocide against Palestinians and intensified its brutal aggression on Lebanon.
This week, "Israel" also injured Indonesian and Sri Lankan soldiers from the UN peacekeeping force, UNIFIL, stationed in southern Lebanon. Italy's Defense Minister Guido Crosetto condemned these actions, stating they "could constitute a war crime and represent a very serious violation of international humanitarian law."
Sanchez's call to halt arms deliveries to "Israel" mirrors a similar plea from French President Emmanuel Macron. Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged to send more weapons to the Israeli government.
It is worth noting that "Israel's" primary weapons supplier remains the United States, followed by Germany.
