FALCON POWERS – Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Yolanda Díaz said that “Palestine will be liberated from the river to the sea”, in a statement condemned by Israel.
Díaz’s comments came at the end of a video clip circulated on social media on Wednesday, in which she explained that Spain’s move to recognize the Palestinian state on May 28 this year is “just the beginning”.
The Spanish Deputy Prime Minister added: “We will continue to exert pressure from our position in the government to defend human rights, and put an end to the genocide of the Palestinian people.”
Díaz, who also holds the position of Minister of Labor and Economy, continued: “We are living in a moment where doing the bare minimum is considered heroic and insufficient at the same time.”
She then stated, “Palestine will be liberated from the river to the sea,” referring to the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, between which the state of Palestine is situated.
Later, the Israeli embassy in Madrid condemned Díaz’s comments, saying that “the phrase encourages hatred and violence.”
Israeli Ambassador to Spain Rodica Radian-Gordon, in a post on her X platform account, considered that there is no room for what she described as “antisemitic statements in a democratic society.”
She continued, “It is absolutely unacceptable for the Deputy Prime Minister of Spain to make such statements,” referring to the phrase “Palestine will be liberated from the river to the sea.”
This was one of the ambassador’s latest official statements before returning to Israel.
Gordon expressed her regret at having to return to Israel due to what she considered the “absurd decisions” taken by the Spanish government, “which will not contribute to peace and security (…) and will not facilitate the release of hostages,” as she claimed.
On Wednesday, Norway, Ireland and Spain officially announced their recognition of the state of Palestine, effective May 28.
Prior to this development, 8 EU member states had previously recognized the state of Palestine: Bulgaria, Poland, Czech Republic, Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, the administration of southern Cyprus, and Sweden.
