MARINA PINA

Updated Tuesday, February 6, 2024-02:08

  • International Spain will donate 3.5 million to the United Nations Palestine fund from which 20 countries have left

José Manuel Albares landed in Qatar last night. The Minister of Foreign Affairs began a two-day tour that will take him to meet with his counterparts from Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The objective of the head of Spanish diplomacy on this trip is clear:

to reach a consensus on positions

to stop the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East and find the bases for a future peace between Israel and Palestine. Albares has been working on this since last October 7, and peace in the East seems to be the objective of the Minister's legislature, which is fighting to position Spain as an

intermediary in the conflict.

When four months have passed since the Hamas attack on Israel that caused

1,200 deaths

and triggered this new conflict in the Strip, Albares takes a new step to

make Spain's role visible.

In this time of war, the minister has spoken with his counterparts from Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Palestine, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United States... as well as all the countries of the European Union. The head of Spanish diplomacy has made balances to consider both parties without changing Spain's discourse. Thus, on October 7, the day of the attack, he published on the social network X (formerly Twitter): «We strongly condemn the very serious terrorist attacks from Gaza against Israel. Overwhelmed by this indiscriminate violence. All our solidarity with the victims. "Spain is firmly committed to peace, security and stability in the region."

To know more

International.

Spain will donate 3.5 million to the United Nations Palestine fund from which 20 countries have left

  • Editor: MARINA PINA

  • Editorial: EFE

Spain will donate 3.5 million to the United Nations Palestine fund from which 20 countries have left

The Libano.

Albares calls in Lebanon for an "immediate ceasefire" to avoid a regional escalation

  • Editor: ROSA MENESES (Special Envoy) Beirut

Albares calls in Lebanon for an "immediate ceasefire" to avoid a regional escalation

Albares maintained this contained position until October 11, when they managed to evacuate the Spaniards trapped in Israel on two Air Force flights. After that, the head of diplomacy focused his efforts on finding a balance, thus, he guaranteed aid to the Spanish NGOs that are in Palestine but met with the Israeli ambassador in Spain. In parallel, he summoned the ambassadors of Arab countries, spoke with the president of the Arab League and, while continuing to condemn the Hamas attack and calling for the release of the Jewish hostages, he added a new line to his speech: "We must

join forces to the cessation of violence

.

On October 14, a week after the terrorist attack and while Israel began its counteroffensive, Albares called for the first time for respect for international humanitarian law. A day later, the head of Spanish diplomacy scored his

first victory

, as the 27 signed a joint statement recalling that the two-state solution is what will guarantee lasting peace in the area. That was the idea that was signed at the Madrid Peace Summit in 1997 and the one that Spain has invoked since then.

At the end of October, Spain went a step further and Albares began to talk about the need to

hold a peace conference

and the establishment of two states. The idea was adopted by the European Union and the Arab League. There is only one discrepancy between the two organizations: while the EU says that the peace plan involves the departure of Hamas from Gaza, the organization of Arab countries avoids commenting on this terrorist group, backed by Hezbollah. This discrepancy became relevant at the Mediterranean Regional Forum, held in November in Barcelona. Two weeks later, Pedro Sánchez visited Egypt and provoked a diplomatic crisis with Israel after expressing his doubts about Netanyahu's compliance with international humanitarian law in front of the Rafah crossing.

Although the ambassador to Spain,

Rodica Radian-Gordon,

was called for consultations and remained away for 40 days, no member of the Executive changed their position. Not only that, but Spain once again advanced in her speech. Albares called for

"a permanent ceasefire"

in Gaza, and began a tour of Lebanon and Iraq to work on de-escalating tension. These first trips are added to the one that begins today in the Gulf, with the idea of ​​listening in Qatar and Riyadh to two key intermediaries in mediating the conflict.

Albares also announced yesterday the donation of 3.5 million more euros to the UN Agency that works with Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA). A message that shows once again the coherent path followed by Spanish diplomacy. After it was published that 12 members of UNRWA participated in the Hamas attack,

20 countries

- including the United States - suspended aid to this United Nations agency. Spain, however, has once again confirmed its support, stating that the office is in a desperate situation: "There is a serious risk that its humanitarian activities in Gaza will be paralyzed in a few weeks."