Spain canceled the contract for the rocket systems of the Israeli structure

The Spanish government canceled a contract worth almost EUR 700 million for the Serviam Rocket System of the Israeli structure. This movement is associated with the policy of the Pedro Sanchez government and an embargo of arms to Israel announced last week.

The Catalan daily “La Vanguardia”, as well as the portal of the Israeli daily Haaretz and the AFP agency announced the cancellation of the contract on Monday.

The contract for the purchase of SILAM rocket systems (the Spanish version of the Israeli PULS system) from Elbit was signed in October 2023, and the information about its cancellation was published in Zeszył's week in the Spanish defense ministry system.

“Puls system is a precise rocket launcher, competing with the American Himars system, which gained global recognition after checking in Ukraine,” noted “Haaretz”.

This is another contract that was broken by the Spanish side in connection with the activities of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip. At the end of May, the Deputy Minister of Defense Amparo Valcarce announced a plan of total “technological disconnection” from the Israeli military industry.

Last week, a contract for 168 SPIKELR2 rocket systems was also canceled, which was to be produced in Spain under a license of an Israeli company. Spanish media reported at the beginning of June about the start of the process of annulment of the contract.

Earlier in May, a contract was terminated for the purchase of ammunition from an Israeli company for almost 7 million euros.

As “La Vanguardia” noted, replacing Israeli equipment with Spanish production will not be easy, because the development of appropriate technologies can take several years. The Madrid government is considering ad hoc shopping from other countries – added the newspaper.

Cited by the daily Minister of Defense Margarita Robles, she assured that there would be no delays in implemented military programs.

Stranged relations between Madrid and Tel Aviv further exacerbated after a week ago by Sanchez new means to put pressure on the Benjamin Netanyahu government. Among them was a complete embargo for weapons supply.

In response, Israel forbade entering the country to two ministers of the Spanish government, and Madrid – also two members of the Israeli government. In addition, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs canceled its ambassador in Tel Aviv to consultation.

As calculated by the Catalan Think Tank Center Delas, dealing with military issues, in the years 2023-2025 the Spanish government awarded 46 contracts to Israeli defense companies worth over EUR 1 billion.

From Madrid Marcin Furdyna (PAP)

MRF/ MAL/