In Spain, thousands gather in pro-Palestinian manifestations and call for ceasefire. // Flickr.comThe Spanish Prime Minister announced that he would work to recognise the Palestinian State and acknowledged that he had doubts as to whether Israel was fulfilling global humanitarian law. The Deputy Prime Minister publically stated that Israel commits war crimes, and thousands of Spanish residents go to the streets and chant "This is not war, this is genocide". Does all this make Spain the most pro-Palestinian country in Europe?
Since October, many European countries have seen pro-Palestinian demonstrations erupting with varying intensity, which have reached a highest of many 1000 turnouts. These demonstrations reflect the voice of support from European society, which is given independently of the position taken by national governments. It may seem that the tensions of war and the humanitarian crisis are expanding especially in the Western countries and, consequently, the demands of the public towards the governments of the countries are besides increasing.
Voice of Palestinian allies
One of the countries where the expectations of part of the society met with the approval of the rulers is Spain, whose Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez announced in 1 of his first speeches that his cabinet would work for the designation of the Palestinian State. Following this declaration, Sánchez and Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, as representatives of the "double EU Presidency", went together to Israel, inter alia, to call on Prime Minister Netanyahu to enter into peace negotiations, respect for global humanitarian law and deescalate the conflict. During this visit, Prime Ministers besides met with Palestinian Authority president Mahmud Abbas.
On Palestine, Prime Minister Sánchez besides spoke outside of his visit to the mediate East. He gave a loud interview to Spanish TVE, which resulted in the temporary withdrawal from Spain of Israeli ambassador Rodika Radian-Gordon. In an interview, the Spanish Prime Minister said that he had doubts as to whether Israel applied global humanitarian law. Among another pro-Palestinian voices, coming from the Spanish political scene very loud and decisive are the words of 2 members of the erstwhile government of Sánchez. Ione Belarra and Irene Montero called for the Prime Minister of Israel to appear before the global Criminal Court for crimes against the Palestinian people. In addition, Belarra accused another European leaders of not being effective adequate in their actions. besides the deputy prime minister and president of the coalition organization Sumar Yolanda Diaz condemned Israel's action, claiming Israel was committing war crimes, and calling for an immediate ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.
Historical developments
It is worth asking yourself what is the reason for this attitude of the Spanish Prime Minister. any say it is simply a strategical decision to divert public attention from interior politics, including the amnesty issue. Others say, however, that this is due to Spain's historical favour in relation to the Palestinian case, and that Sánchez himself hopes that his position will trigger a "domin effect" in another EU countries. There are besides voices that the Prime Minister simply holds a position that approves most of his constituents.
Historically, Spain has always been close to arabian countries, and Spanish public opinion has been sympathizing with Palestinians for years. Diplomatic relations with Israel were only established in 1986, 38 years after Israel proclaimed its independence. This was, among another things, the consequence of the dictatorial regulation of General Franco, although even 10 years after them, during the transformation and democratic rule, these relations were inactive unresolved.
Despite the uncertainty about the reasons for this, Spain is certain that this is not just the consequence of the ideological affiliation of the government coalition. Pedro Sánchez is from a leftist group, and his government is composed of leftist parties, but pro-Palestinian endorsements took place in Spain not only under leftist rule. An example of this could be the year 2014, erstwhile the Prime Minister was Mariano Rajoy Brey from the right-wing conservative People's Party. The Spanish Parliament then adopted a resolution calling for the designation of the Palestinian State.
Reactions from Spanish residents
On the Palestinian issue, the position of the Spanish government is clear. What about the Spanish? They besides seem to be very favored and mostly closer to the government's approach than his opponents. In the largest cities, pro-Palestinian demonstrations have continued since October, gathering many thousands of participants, specified as on 29 October in Madrid, where nearly 35 000 people participated in the protest, who jointly chanted slogans specified as "This is not war, this is genocide" or "Not for barbarism." Not for war. Suspension of weapons.’ People gathered and gathered not only in the capital, manifestations are besides held in another cities, including Barcelona (the largest: 20,000 people), Guernice (8 December – about 3,000 people), Valencia, Bilbao or Granada. In addition, support for Palestine was publically demonstrated and is by many well-known personalities from the planet of culture, athletics and another celebrities.
Marianna CZMOCHOWSKA
