Spain in the Mediterranean: between Spanish-Arab Relations and Recognition of the State of Israel

• Main Author: María Dolores Algora Weber
• Format: Article
• Language: Spanish
• Published: Barcelona Centre for International Affairs (CIDOB) 2007-12-01
• Series: Revista CIDOB d'Afers Internacionals
• Subjects: Spain; foreign policy; history; Arab world; Israel
• Online Access: http://www.cidob.org/es/content/download/6538/65434/file/algora_79_80.pdf

This article focuses on the impact which, in Spanish-Arab relations, caused the birth of the State of Israel in the context of Spanish foreign policy. The international isolation imposed by the United Nations on the Franco regime after the end of the Second World War influenced the recognition of the new State and Spain’s establishing of diplomatic relations up until 1986. This historical view helps to explain why relations with the Arab world became a priority forthe successive Spanish governments which sometimes out of a conviction of the existence of an historic debt to the Arab governments, sometimes through a mythification of the possibleconsequences of recognising the State of Israel, sometimes out of political convenience for one side or another resulted in almost three decades of disagreements between the two countries,Spain and Israel, which in turn also share historical links.