Spain’s political stance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict: history, diplomacy, regional strategy, and public opinion

Abstract

The conflict between Palestinians and Israelis is a prolonged focusof instability in the Middle East, which has a direct impact on international politics and security. No country can remain oblivious to the serious consequences arising from episodes of violence and a serious humanitarian crisis. Spain, as an intermediate power in the Mediterranean region, must adapt its foreign policy to the development of events in the Palestinian territories and Israel, since it has vital interests and a prominent presence in the area. The work explores Spain’s relations with Palestine and Israel duringthe 20th and 21st centuries, dissecting the political, economic, cultural, and security ties between the European powers and the Palestinian and Israeli agents and the perceptions of Spanish public opinion on the conflict. The research is based on the hypothesis that the Spanish State maintains a unique position regarding the conflict, distinguishes it from other Western countries, due to its advocacy of the two-state solution and strong support for recognising the State of Palestine. Different historical factors addressed throughout this academic analysis explain this outstanding circumstance.