Spain’s two main radical left parties, Sumar, the junior partner in Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government, and Podemos, a member of Sánchez’s previous progressive government, have asked the prime minister to cut ties with Israel and take back his pledge to increase the national defence budget to 2% of GDP in line with NATO commitments by 2029.

During a parliamentary debate in which Sánchez (PSOE/S&D) gave details of the recent European Council in Brussels, Iñigo Errejón, the parliamentary spokesman for Sumar called on the prime minister to suspend his commitment to increase the country’s military budget.

“The majority of the Spanish working class should not make any sacrifices to fatten the military industry or the war economy. They won’t find us there in any case,” Errejón said.

The latest draft of the national budget for 2024 foresees an increase to 1.3% of GDP for defence spending, while Sánchez pledged to reach the 2% of GDP requested by NATO by 2029, in line with non-binding member pledges.

The most recent government forecasts project defence spending to exceed €13.4 billion this year.

Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in February 2022, Podemos – which split from Sumar last December due to internal differences between its leaders – spoke out against Spain sending Leopard tanks and other defence equipment to Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Podemos Secretary-General Ione Belarra, at odds with Sumar leader and deputy prime minister Yolanda Díaz, accused Sánchez of aligning himself with the European right and far-right (EPP/ECR/ID) by pledging to increase defence spending and join the “arms race.”

“Rearmament does not stop war, it feeds it, that is what history teaches us and we should not forget it when we hear siren songs in the United States, and an arms race,” Belarra said during the parliamentary debate.

Cutting diplomatic relations with Israel

However, regarding the initiative to recognise Palestine as an official state before the summer, Belarra urged Sánchez to make it a reality “tomorrow.”

Read more: Spain could recognise Palestinian statehood before summer

She also called on the head of government to “suspend the purchase and sale of arms to Israel” and to “suspend diplomatic relations” with Tel Aviv.

The European Union “has not devoted a single minute to peace, nor to diplomacy”, Belarra added.

Sumar’s Errejón also urged Sánchez to call on Spain to break off trade relations with Israel, impose a total arms embargo, “bring those responsible (for the deaths of civilians in Gaza) before the International Criminal Court” and urgently recognise the Palestinian state, as promised in his government pact with Sumar.

What is valid for Ukraine “has to be valid for Palestine”, Errejón said.

Earlier this week, Spanish government sources confirmed that Sánchez will embark on a trip to rally European allies behind Madrid’s initiative to recognise the Palestinian state, with visits to Norway, Ireland, Belgium, and Slovenia.

“Our objective is clear. It’s to push for the recognition of Palestine as a state,” said government spokesperson Pilar Alegría.

(Fernando Heller | EuroEFE.Euractiv.es)

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