Latest news with #RepublicanLeftofCatalonia
Al Manar
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Al Manar
Spain Takes Bold Stand: Parliament Votes to Consider Israeli Arms Trade Ban
Spain's parliament on Tuesday passed a non-binding motion calling on the government to impose an arms embargo on Israel in response to its military operations in Gaza. The motion, introduced by the leftist Sumar alliance, part of the ruling coalition, along with opposition parties Podemos and the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC), was approved by a vote of 176-171, El Pais reported. Spain's parliament passed a non-binding resolution on Tuesday calling for a full arms embargo on Israel, citing its actions in Gaza as genocide. The motion, approved by a slim majority of 176 to 171, urges the government to halt all military-related exports, including protective… — The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) May 21, 2025 The conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox voted against the proposal, while all other parties supported it. Lawmakers in favor applauded the motion, which urges the Spanish government to ban the exports of any material that could strengthen the Israeli military, including helmets, vests, and fuel with potential military use. The motion also recommends reforming Spain's foreign trade legislation to prohibit military agreements with any state accused of committing genocide or crimes against humanity, specifically citing Israel's offensive on Gaza. Sumar spokesperson Veronica Martinez said Spain 'cannot cooperate with a state that commits genocide or war crimes,' adding that Israel's arms industry 'must not be supported under the current circumstances in Gaza.' Podemos leader Ione Belarra called on the Spanish Cabinet to convene an emergency session this week to issue a formal decree banning arms sales to Israel. 'Palestinians cannot wait any longer. Netanyahu is killing, bombing, starving, and depriving them of medical care. What is happening is the biggest ethnic cleansing of the 21st century,' she said, describing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as 'the Hitler of our time.' Defense Minister Margarita Robles, attending an EU Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels, reiterated that Spain has not engaged in arms trade with Israel since the onset of the Gaza war on Oct. 7, 2023. 'We are not buying weapons from Israel, and this must be clearly stated. Since October 7, not a single weapon has been purchased from 'Israel'. Only protective gear like helmets and vests for Spanish security forces has been procured,' Robles said. However, civil society groups demonstrating outside parliament claimed that Spain still maintains nine active contracts with Israeli arms companies and continues to pay millions of euros under those agreements.
Ya Biladi
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Two Spanish parties call for halt to arms exports to Morocco
Two Spanish political parties are demanding a halt to arms exports to Morocco, wrote Iberian media this Sunday, May Basque and Catalan independence parties, EH Bildu and the Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC)—both allies of the Polisario—have called for a suspension of export licenses for police and security equipment to Morocco. They demand that no such licenses be granted until all allegations of serious violations of international law, including excessive use of force, torture, and the forced disappearance of migrants by Moroccan security forces,are thoroughly and independently investigated and those responsible are held accountable. The proposal by EH Bildu and ERC is part of the ongoing reform being examined in the House of Representatives regarding the law governing the foreign trade of defense and security equipment. For the record, in December 2020, Catalan MPs from ERC had already supported the same request in a non-binding bill for the government. The government led by Pedro Sánchez has already rejected an initiative from its allies within Sumar to impose an embargo on arms sales to Morocco. «All defense material exports carried out by Spain comply with national legislation, as well as European and international regulations. These laws are based on the respect for the principles of international humanitarian law and on measures to promote international peace and security,» stated Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares in April 2024, in response to a written question from the far-left coalition deputies.
