Spain rejected every “restriction” that the Israeli occupation government intends to impose on the activities of its consulate in occupied Jerusalem, in response to Madrid’s recognition of the State of Palestine.

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albarez said on Friday, "This morning we sent a verbal note to the Israeli government in which we rejected any restriction on the usual activity of the Spanish Consulate General in Jerusalem, as its status is guaranteed under international law."

He added in an interview with Onda Cero Radio, "Therefore, this situation cannot be changed unilaterally by Israel," noting that "Madrid asked the Israeli government to reverse this decision."

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said last Monday that it had asked the Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem to stop providing consular services to the Palestinians in the West Bank, as of June 1, due to Madrid’s recognition of the State of Palestine.

It added, "The Spanish Consulate in Jerusalem is authorized to provide consular services to residents of the consular area in Jerusalem only, and is not authorized to provide services or carry out consular activity to residents of the area under the Palestinian Authority."

Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz considered this a “punitive” measure, as he described it.

Last week, Spain, Ireland and Norway announced their recognition of the State of Palestine, in a decision that took effect on May 28 and sparked angry and extremist reactions from the Israeli occupation government.

Yesterday, Thursday, the Slovenian government announced that it had decided to recognize the State of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state, and referred the decision to the Slovenian House of Representatives for approval next Tuesday.