Israel reprimands Spain over blowing up of Netanyahu effigy

MADRID, April 11 (Reuters) – Israel said on Saturday it had reprimanded Spain’s most senior diplomat in Tel Aviv over the blowing up of a giant effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a Spanish town this week. 

The seven-metre (23-foot) figure was packed with 14 kilograms (31 lb) of gunpowder in El Burgo, a small town near the southern city of Malaga, in a decades-old ceremony on April 5, its Mayor Maria Dolores Narvaez told local television.

“The appalling antisemitic hatred on display here is a direct result of Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s government’s systemic incitement,” Israel’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on X which highlighted a video clip. 

Reuters was not immediately able to verify the video.

“The Spanish government is committed to fighting against antisemitism and any form of hate or discrimination. As such we totally reject any insidious allegation which suggests the contrary,” a Spanish Foreign Ministry source said in response.

El Burgo’s Mayor Narvaez said the town has previously used effigies of U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the annual event.

Spain has been an outspoken critic of the U.S. and Israeli military campaigns in Iran and Lebanon, despite U.S. threats nL1N40R0WB to punish uncooperative NATO allies nFWN40R1H0.

Spain and Israel have been embroiled in a long-running diplomatic row which began over the Gaza war. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said a Spanish ban on aircraft and ships carrying weapons to Israel from its ports or airspace due to Israel’s military offensive was antisemitic.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares accused Israel of violating international law and the two-week ceasefire nL6N40S0C8 after a massive wave of airstrikes nL6N40R0HD across Lebanon this week. Netanyahu said on Wednesday that Lebanon was not part of the ceasefire and Israel’s military was continuing to strike Hezbollah with force.

Sanchez, who has emerged as a leading opponent nL6N3ZF0NM of the Iran war, has closed Spanish airspace nL1N40I09B to any aircraft involved in a confrontation he has described as reckless and illegal.     

(Reporting by Graham Keeley; Editing by Alexander Smith)