Spain denies docking permission to Israel-bound US cargo vessels
The move comes after an investigation revealed dozens of vessels carrying US weapons for Israel were docked in Spain months after Madrid claimed to have implemented a ban
The Spanish government has denied docking permission to two cargo vessels bound from the US and suspected of transporting weapons for Israel.
On 7 November, a spokesman for the Spanish foreign ministry told El Pais that the Maersk Denver, which left New York on 31 October, and the Maersk Seletar, which left New York on 4 November, “will not stop in Spain."
Lawmaker Enrique Santiago had previously requested that the attorney general adopt measures “in view of the arrival on the 9th and 14th of this month of two cargo ships from the United States bound for Israel that are going to transit through [the Port of] Algeciras," warning that their arrival would constitute a violation of the country's penal code.
In May, Madrid announced it would ban ships loaded with military material destined for Israel from docking in its ports. However, earlier this week, an investigation by Progressive International and the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) revealed that at least 25 US arms shipments headed for Israel between May and September of this year stopped at the Port of Algeciras.
“We are studying the information with the ministries responsible for the control and entry of goods into the national territory to clarify what happened,” a foreign ministry spokesperson told media in response to the investigation. “If the information is confirmed, all necessary measures will be taken. The MFA has made and continues to make repeated appeals to tighten controls so as to ensure strict compliance with its decisions on this matter.”
“We can clearly state that Spain is violating the law,” European Parliament member Irene Montero said of the revelations. “Article 8.1 of Law 53/2007 on the Foreign Trade of Arms states that the authorization for the transit of military material must be suspended when there are ‘rational indications’ that the material will be used to exacerbate conflicts, in a manner contrary to human dignity, or in a human rights violation.”
“This means that even if the official destination of the military material is not Israel, if there are indications that the material could reach Israel and be used in a way that constitutes a human rights violation, the Spanish government should also prohibit the transit of those arms,” Moreno added.
Last week, Madrid canceled a contract to buy ammunition for its Civil Guard police force from an Israeli defense company. “The Spanish government maintains the commitment not to sell weapons to the Israeli state since the armed conflict broke out in the territory of Gaza … Although in this case it is an acquisition of ammunition, the Interior Ministry has initiated the administrative procedure to cancel the purchase,” Spain’s Interior Ministry announced.