Spain bars entry of Israel ministers Ben-Gvir, Smotrich

Spain has barred two far-right Israeli government ministers from entering its territory in response to sanctions imposed by Israel on Spanish officials, escalating a diplomatic rift between Madrid and Tel Aviv.

Israel ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir “will not be able



to enter Spanish territory,” Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced during a press conference on Tuesday, September 9.

Albares stressed that Spain had a “moral duty” to act in line with its national and European sovereignty and uphold international human rights standards.