Madrid (agencies)
Spain rejected every restriction that Israel intends to impose on the activities of its consulate in Jerusalem in response to Madrid’s recognition of the State of Palestine, as Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez announced yesterday.
The minister said, in press statements: “This morning, we sent a verbal note to the Israeli government in which we rejected any restriction on the usual activity of the Spanish Consulate General in Jerusalem, as its status is guaranteed under international law.”
He added, “Therefore, this situation cannot be changed unilaterally by Israel,” noting that Madrid asked Tel Aviv to “return from this decision.” The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday that it had asked the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem to stop providing consular services to the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, as of June 1, due to Madrid’s recognition of the State of Palestine.
The Ministry explained, in a statement, that “the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem is authorized to provide consular services to residents of the consular area in Jerusalem only, and is not authorized to provide services or carry out consular activity to residents of the area under the Palestinian Authority.”
Spain, Ireland and Norway announced last week their recognition of the State of Palestine, in a decision that took effect on May 28.
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