Spain has actually canceled a significant arms handle Israeli defense professional Rafael, stopping a $310 million agreement for 168 Spike LR2 antitank rocket systems. The Spanish Defense Ministry verified Tuesday that it had actually suspended the production license held by Rafael’s Spanish subsidiary, Pap Tecnos, as part of an effort to end dependence on Israeli military innovation due to Israel’s continuous project in Gaza.
The arrangement, authorized in October 2023– simply days before the October 7 Hamas-led attack on Israel– would have provided launchers, rockets, and logistical assistance to Spain’s military. Now, Spain is checking out options, consisting of the US-made Javelin system established by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
The cancellation of the arrangement follows Spain’s April cancellation of a different $15 million purchase of Israeli-made ammo.
Spain has actually been an extreme critic of Israel, particularly as Israel has actually increase operations in Gaza, and has no active arms sales with the nation. In Might, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez explained Israel as “a genocidal state,” and recently Barcelona ended a “relationship arrangement” with Tel Aviv.
” We are working so that there is no reliance on Israeli business in the future,” Secretary of State for Defense Amparo Valcarce stated recently.
The choice comes as Israel deals with mounting worldwide legal analysis. The International Court of Justice is hearing a genocide case brought by South Africa, while the International Crook Court has actually provided arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and previous Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Netanyahu has actually knocked the charges as “unreasonable and incorrect.”