Spain terminates ammunitions contract with Israel
The Spanish government has announced that it is backing out of a contract with an Israeli company to purchase ammunition for the Guardia Civil (the Spanish military police). The move comes after left-wing coalition partner Sumar condemned the plan to purchase 15 million bullets worth 6.6 million euros on the grounds that the cabinet had pledged not to enter into any arms deals with Israel.
They can keep their dates and bullets
In eldiario.es, author Isaac Rosa criticises the government's ineptitude:
“Dates and bullets are increasing the suffering of the Palestinian people. Dates (and other fruits) often come from areas that have been taken away from the Palestinians. ... And the bullets come from manufacturers whose weapons have killed tens of thousands of men and women. ... It's hard to believe that no one in the government, including Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska, would realise how explosive such news would be, that it would be rejected by coalition partners and even prompt threats of withdrawal. ... And that no one understood that a majority of Spaniards - one of the societies where support for the Palestinian cause is strongest - don't want dates and certainly don't want bullets from Israel.”
Win-win for the manufacturer
Spain is not acting in its own interests, says ABC:
“Pressure from the radical left installed within and outside the government has forced Sánchez to unilaterally terminate the ammunitions purchase contract. ... The purchase had been agreed by the Interior Ministry to supply the Guardia Civil, but the threats to break up the coalition government weighed more heavily than the public prosecutor's reasons for maintaining the contract. This has jeopardised Spain's reputation in international business. ... And the whole thing is also a burden on the budget. He who terminates a contract has to compensate the other party. It's a nice deal for the Israeli company: it collects the price of purchase but doesn't have to supply the ammunition.”