ISTANBUL

Spain’s parliamentary Defense Committee on Monday rejected a proposal to ban Israeli companies from participating in all arms and defense-related exhibitions held in the country.

The motion, brought forward by the leftist Sumar alliance, part of the ruling coalition, failed to pass after the ruling Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) led by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez abstained during the vote, El Espanol reported.

The proposal was also opposed by the main opposition conservative People's Party (PP) and the far-right Vox party.

In addition to seeking a ban on Israeli defense firms, the proposal called for pressure on the European Union to establish regulations that would bar participation in defense events by delegations and companies from countries accused of genocide, crimes against humanity or other serious violations of international law.

During the committee session, Sumar MP Felix Alonso accused the PSOE of failing to impose an official embargo on arms trade with Israel and on maritime shipments supplying weapons to the country.

“If a weapon is systematically used to commit war crimes, supplying or producing it makes the state complicit,” Alonso said.

PSOE lawmaker Caridad Rives acknowledged the complexity of the situation in Gaza, saying the government was “trying to strike a balance.”

She noted that military contracts with Israeli firms had been suspended and said Spain was exploring alternative options for its defense and security plans.

Rives, who condemned the "massacre faced by the people of Gaza," also said that a separate proposal submitted by the PSOE on the issue was rejected.

Last week, Spain’s Defense Ministry suspended a 2023 contract with an Israeli company to produce Spike LR2 anti-tank missile systems for the Spanish Army, citing policy shifts amid the ongoing war in Gaza.