On April 10, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu responded in sharp terms to criticism from Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez: "Israel will never remain silent in the face of those who attack us. Spain has slandered our heroes—the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who are soldiers of the most ethical army in the world. ... Those who attack the State of Israel rather than the terrorist regime will not become partners in the future development of our region. I will not allow any country to wage a diplomatic war against us without paying a price."

On April 8, just as U.S.-Iran ceasefire talks were beginning, Israel launched its most intense assault on Lebanon since the start of this round of conflict, resulting in significant civilian casualties. In response, Spanish Prime Minister Sánchez immediately posted a strong condemnation on social media, criticizing Netanyahu for "disregarding life and international law in an intolerable manner," accusing Israel of "violating and trampling international humanitarian law," and calling for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire framework. He publicly urged the EU to suspend its Association Agreement with Israel.

Netanyahu’s reply transformed criticism into an act of "attack":

"Israel will not stay silent toward those who target us. Spain has slandered our heroes—the soldiers of the Israel Defense Forces, who are soldiers of the most ethical army in the world." (Note: the most ethical army [shocked])

By labeling Spain’s criticism of Israeli military conduct as "slandering heroes" rather than "criticizing policy," Netanyahu effectively sought to eliminate room for critique of Israel’s military actions—criticizing the IDF equates to defaming the world’s most moral army.

Netanyahu’s aggressive response is driven by multiple motives:

Domestically, Netanyahu needs to demonstrate a hardline stance to Israel’s right-wing voters, proving he is willing to retaliate against any critic with equal force.

Internationally, it sends a clear "let the chicken be killed to scare the monkey" message: any country openly criticizing Israel on the global stage may face similar consequences. At the same time, it deeply ties bilateral tensions to U.S. position.

Sánchez’s stance enjoys broad public support within Spain—polls show that the vast majority of Spaniards oppose this war, and Sánchez’s Socialists even saw their approval ratings rise as a result. Therefore, Spain is unlikely to shift its position under Netanyahu’s pressure.

In summary, Netanyahu’s response is a carefully crafted political maneuver designed to send a clear message to the entire international community: "Criticism of Israel comes at a cost."

This "diplomatic war" is far from over—and may have only just entered its substantive phase.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1862115262226432/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.