Spain Removes Justice Minister For Pro-Palestine Stance: Reports (image-instagram/ionabelarra)
Spain’s Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday announced his largely unchanged new cabinet keeping the post of 22 ministers. Meanwhile, Podemos leader Ione Belarra has been demoted from position of minister of social justice. This decision reportedly stemmed from her advocacy for Palestinian human rights and her pursuit of war crimes charges against certain parties before the International Criminal Court, reports Middle East Monitor.
A century ago, fascist barbarity ran rampant in Europe. Let”s not allow the same to happen in Palestine with the extermination of the Palestinian people. Let”s sever relations with Israel and bring its government to the International Criminal Court.https://t.co/QvG9W9XnpU pic.twitter.com/KfOcHloJj7
— Ione Belarra (@ionebelarra) November 18, 2023
She has made her stand clear by saying that she didn’t want to be an accomplice to Israel’s indiscriminate attacks on the besieged Palestinian enclave. Ione Belarra who has lately called for severing all diplomatic ties with Israel will be substituted by Pablo Bustinduy of Sumar. Former Podemos leader Pablo lglesias criticized and insinuated that this move was linked to her position on Palestine.
Ione Belarra expressed her disappointment in completely removing Podemos from the newly elected government and wrote on X, “A decision that is not only unfair but above all a serious political error because in the progressive bloc we all need each other, especially the engine of the most ambitious transformations,” in Spanish. Belarra extended her solidarity with Palestine by participating in several protests held in Spain. She met with the Palestinian representatives last week to express her solidarity.
Hoy me he podido reunir con representantes de la Comunidad Palestina en España. Vuestra causa es la causa de todas las personas decentes y honradas del mundo, que quieren para sus hijos lo mismo que para los hijos de los demás. Palestina libre.https://t.co/QvG9W9XnpU pic.twitter.com/sHRo0FjC5l
— Ione Belarra (@ionebelarra) November 14, 2023
However, the newly elected youth minister, Sira Rego who was partially raised in Palestine is a pro-Palestine supporter and have expressed her view by stating that the Israel’s attack on Hamas as ‘genocide’.
Belarra’s substitute Bustinduy too shares the same view on Palestine. He called Israel’s actions in Gaza as ‘barbaric’ and added that “one million children living in hell… is unacceptable”, reports Daily Sabah.
Meanwhile, Spain prime minister Pedro Sanchez has said on last week that one of his main priorities for the new term is recognizing the State of Palestine.
As per Anadolu Ajansi report, Sanchez will visit Israel and Palestine in the first international trip since his re-election. On Thursday, he has scheduled to meet with Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He said that his first step would be to recognize the Palestinian state and vowed to advocate for the same stance at European level. Sanchez will be travelling along with his Belgium counterpart Alexander De Croo, who has recently slammed Israel’s attack on civilian populations.
The Israel’s atrocities in Gaza have sparked tensions within European states. Spain and Ireland have recently called for an immediate cease-fire while other nations like Germany have extended their support for Israel’s actions.
