“To bar the brave men and women of the IDF … while your political apparatus simultaneously legitimizes terrorist networks and accommodationist policies, is a betrayal of Western values,” he wrote.
The congressman also criticized Spain’s policies restricting military cooperation with Israel, including what he described as arms embargoes and limits affecting defense transportation.
He argued those actions place Spain “firmly on the wrong side of the global fight for freedom.”
The move comes as tensions continue to rise over the war in the Middle East, with disagreements over Israel’s military campaign increasingly affecting diplomatic relationships around the world
According to the congressman, Spain’s recent policies toward Israel demonstrate that the Sánchez government no longer shares those principles.
“Until then, I can no longer lend my name to an organization intended to celebrate bilateral friendship while your government actively works to undermine democratic principles,” he said in his letter.
The letter reflects continuing divisions among Western allies over the conflict involving Israel and Hamas, with several European governments taking positions that have drawn both praise and criticism internationally.
Giménez said the Congressional Friends of Spain Caucus exists to strengthen relations between the United States and Spain based on shared democratic values
Giménez’s decision to step down from the bipartisan caucus underscores how disagreements over the Middle East continue to shape diplomatic and political relationships well beyond the region itself.
