Shmuel Hadass, who has been Israel’s unofficial representative in Madrid until now, will become the Jewish State’s first Ambassador to Spain, it was learned here Friday when the two countries announced the establishment of diplomatic relations.
Foreign Minister Yitzhak Shamir told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency in a special interview Friday, “I regard the establishment of relations between the two countries as a very important step in strengthening Israel’s political standing in the world, particularly in Europe. This is, in effect, a correction which has been needed for many years.”
He added, “We welcome this important step, and I hope we shall witness the development of significant relations in all spheres, the political, the economic and the social.”
The announcements were made simultaneously in Jerusalem, Madrid and The Hague where the documents of mutual recognition were signed by Yeshayahu Anog, Deputy Director General of the Israeli Foreign Ministry, and Maximo de Kajal, director of the European Affairs Department of the Spanish Foreign Ministry. Premier Shimon Peres and Prime Minister Felipe Gonzalez of Spain met at The Hague Sunday. (Separate story, P.3.)
Spain is the last Western European nation to establish full diplomatic ties with Israel. The joint communique issued by both countries Friday stated that the decision was made among other reasons because of the deep historic connections between the Spanish and Jewish people. The move had been sought by Israel for many years.
Arrangements were completed during a secret visit to Madrid early this month by Labor MK Micha Harish and Uri Savir, who was Peres Communications advisor in the Spanish capital.
Both countries made political statements Friday indicating that their new formal relationship will not affect their respective policies which differ sharply on the Middle East.
Foreign Minister Francisco Fernandez Ordonez of Spain stressed at a press conference his government’s commitment to solve the Palestinian problem through negotiations that would include the Palestine Liberation Organization and that it was firmly opposed to any attempt by Israel to annex Arab territories it now occupies.
Ordonez’s statement reflected Madrid’s sensitivity to Arab pressure. In fact the latter is considered the main reason why Spain delayed recognition of Israel for 38 years after the founding of the Jewish State and more than 10 years after the restoration of democratic government in Spain following the death of Gen. Francisco Franco in 1974.
Recognition of Israel was in fact one of the conditions of Spain’s admission to the European Economic Community (EEC) which it joined on January I. All EEC member states, including Portugal which also joined the Common Market January I, have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Shamir noted that Spain’s admission to the EEC was a major factor because it would have been “unacceptable that one of the EEC countries would not have diplomatic relations with Israel.” He acknowledged Israel’s competition with Spain for European markets, notably in citrus and other agricultural products. He said the matter was the subject of ongoing negotiations “and I hope that soon we shall reach an agreement that will be acceptable to all parties.”
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
