Gideon Sa'ar

Rule Changes

Leading Israel's counter-escalation against Spain and other critics

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 Mar 11

Force in Play

Announced reciprocal expulsion alongside Netanyahu

South Africa and Israel have expelled each other's top diplomats, leaving neither country with a senior representative in the other. On January 30, 2026, South Africa declared Israeli chargé d'affaires Ariel Seidman persona non grata for using embassy social media to insult President Cyril Ramaphosa. Hours later, Israel reciprocated by expelling South Africa's chargé d'affaires Shaun Byneveldt. Both were ordered to leave within 72 hours.

Updated Feb 1

Rule Changes

Attended Pax Silica signing ceremony

For the first time since COCOM dissolved in 1994, the United States is assembling a formal technology bloc. Taiwan signed the Pax Silica Declaration on January 27, 2026—making the world's dominant chip manufacturer a formal participant alongside Israel, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, UK, Australia, Qatar, and the UAE. The signing occurred during the U.S.-Taiwan Economic Prosperity Partnership Dialogue, with Under Secretary Jacob Helberg and Taiwan's Minister of Economic Affairs Kung Ming-hsin witnessing AIT and TECRO endorse principles of 'mutual prosperity, technological progress, and supply chain resilience.' Two days later, Helberg confirmed India will join in February 2026, which would bring the world's two largest democracies and 90% of advanced chip production into a single coalition.

Updated Jan 30