Dana Erlich, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Israeli Embassy in Spain, signs the guestbook at the headquarters of the Community of Madrid. Photo: David Canales / SOPA Images

Israel has once again accused the Spanish government of fueling antisemitism through its anti-Israel rhetoric and alleged incitement of hatred, the latest escalation in the tense relationship between Jerusalem and Madrid.

In an interview with N12 News, Israel’s acting ambassador to Spain, Dana Erlich, said the Spanish government’s stance on Israel is motivated not by solidarity with the Palestinian cause but by a desire to harm the Jewish state.

“We are in a truly difficult situation with the Spanish government,” Erlich said. “I came here without illusions about the current government’s stance or what could be achieved. But I arrived with the belief that all is not lost and that there is still room for dialogue and a diversity of opinions.”

Since the start of the war in Gaza, Spain has become one of Israel’s fiercest critics, a stance that has only intensified in recent months, coinciding with a shocking rise in antisemitic incidents targeting the local Jewish community — from violent assaults and vandalism to protests and legal actions.

“It is important to clearly distinguish the current Spanish government from the rest of the country, including the broader political sphere, opposition parties, the media, and civil society organizations,” Erlich said.

The Israeli diplomat stressed that most Spaniards do not view Israel as an enemy, and that the government’s stance is not representative of the country as a whole.

“We cannot let this government’s anti-Israel stance hold us back; we must step up our efforts and increase our visibility,” Erlich said.

Since assuming her role earlier this year, Erlich has worked to maintain meetings, personal contacts, and engagement in cultural, economic, and academic arenas, despite government efforts to hinder such activities.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has increasingly faced backlash from his country’s political leaders and the Jewish community, who accuse him of fueling antisemitic hostility.

These criticisms intensified following incidents at the Vuelta a España cycling race, with political leaders claiming he has repeatedly incited hatred through his anti-Israel rhetoric and exploitation of the Palestinian cause.

“Like in many other parts of the world, we are deeply concerned about the rise of antisemitism here,” Erlich said. “What is even more alarming is the authorities’ failure to recognize or acknowledge this increase.”

“Antisemitism has existed for a long time, but here in particular, rhetoric and criticism of Israel often spill over into generalizations and the demonization of all Israelis,” the Israeli diplomat continued.

“Spain is a signatory to the Declaration on Combating Antisemitism, yet this blanket generalization and targeting of all Israelis violates the Declaration — and fits the very definition of antisemitism,” Erlich said.

Since the start of the war in Gaza, Spain has launched a fierce anti-Israel campaign aimed at undermining the Jewish state on the international stage.

In one of its latest attempts to curb Israel’s defensive campaign against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas, Madrid has decided to block US military planes and ships from using Spanish bases to transport weapons and equipment to Jerusalem.

Last month, Sánchez also unveiled new policies targeting Israel over the war in Gaza, including an arms embargo and a ban on certain Israeli goods.

The Spanish government announced it would bar entry to individuals involved in what it called a “genocide against Palestinians,” block Israel-bound ships and aircraft carrying weapons from Spanish ports and airspace, and enforce an embargo on products from Israeli communities in the West Bank.

Spain has also canceled a €700 million ($825 million) deal for Israeli-designed rocket launchers, as the government conducts a broader review to systematically phase out Israeli weapons and technology from its armed forces.