Break Seen in Diplomatic Impasse Between Spain and Israel

A definite break in the diplomatic impasse between Spain and Israel was seen here in the statement by a leading Spanish journalist that the two countries establish “formal relations.” For political and economic reasons, the Spanish government has refused to have diplomatic relations with Israel. Spain has held steadfastly to Arab positions in the United Nations and in the international forums regarding Middle East issues and strict controls to suppress skyjacking and international terrorism such as that waged by the Arab Black September gang.

Jose Maria Armero, chairman of the Spanish news agency, Europa Press, said in a statement published Monday in Madrid that Spain should stop “ignoring” Israel. Armero, who recently visited Israel, said that the two countries have common economic problems, particularly regarding relations with the European Economic Community. According to a news dispatch received here reporting Armero’s statement, the Spanish journalist also said that in his view no other nation in the world was “as prepared as Israel to receive Spain’s cultural message.”

In conversations late last Dec. in Madrid, high Spanish officials acknowledged unofficially that an anamoly existed in view of the fact that Spain and the Soviet Union battlefield enemies in World War II have arranged to exchange trade missions but that Spain refuses to give similar recognition to the Israel government. Spain imports approximately $12 million worth of goods from Israel, mainly crude copper, and exports to Israel about $4 million worth of commodities–principally processed products, according to statistics of the past three years. About 9000 Jews divided almost evenly between Sephardim and Ashkenazim live in Spain, the majority in Barcelona and Madrid.