Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Managing growing diplomatic isolation in Europe

Spain has maintained an ambassador in Israel for over four decades. On March 11, 2026, it formally ended that arrangement, downgrading its Tel Aviv embassy to a chargé d'affaires — a lower-ranking diplomat who keeps the channel open but signals deep, structural disagreement. The decree, signed by King Felipe VI and Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares, made Spain the first major European Union member to permanently withdraw its ambassador from Israel.

Updated 4 days ago