Spain Removes Ambassador to Israel Amid War in Iran

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Madrid downgrades diplomatic ties with Tel Aviv, removing its ambassador amid opposition to Israel’s military actions in Iran and Gaza.

Spain has formally removed its ambassador to Israel amid deepening diplomatic tensions linked to the ongoing war involving Iran and Israel, the Spanish government announced on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The move marks a significant downgrade in relations between Madrid and Tel Aviv.

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In a decree published in Spain’s official state journal on Tuesday, the Council of Ministers approved the termination of Ana María Sálomon Pérez’s appointment as Spain’s ambassador to Israel, a position she had held since 2021. The embassy in Tel Aviv will now be led by a chargé d’affaires rather than a full ambassador.

Sálomon had already been recalled to Madrid in September 2025 for consultations following a diplomatic dispute with the Israeli government. That episode stemmed from Spanish measures aimed at restricting the use of Spanish ports and airspace by aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel during its military offensive in Gaza, which prompted sharp rebukes from Israeli officials.

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The latest decision comes as Spain has taken one of the strongest European stances against Israel’s recent military operations, including attacks in Gaza and coordinated strikes on Iran alongside the United States. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has been a vocal critic of the conflict, calling the escalation “unjustifiable” and opposing the war, while urging respect for international law and humanitarian principles.

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The diplomatic shift further strains ties already frayed by Spain’s earlier recognition of a Palestinian state—a move that led to Israel recalling its ambassador from Madrid in 2024. Both embassies in Tel Aviv and Madrid are now headed by chargés d’affaires rather than ambassadors.

Madrid stressed that the decision reflects its principled position on the conflict and its broader foreign policy aims, including calls for ceasefires and diplomatic solutions. For the time being, Spain’s embassy will continue operations at a lower level of representation as relations between the two governments remain tense.