Sánchez branded a disgrace as Vuelta halted by pro-Palestinian protests

Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar launched a scathing attack on Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Sunday evening, branding him and his government “a disgrace to Spain” after pro-Palestinian demonstrators forced the suspension of the Vuelta cycling race.

Saar accused Sánchez of directly fueling the unrest. “He encouraged the protesters to take to the streets in order to stop the race,” Saar said, before posting on X: “Sánchez and his government: the shame of Spain.”

The unprecedented interruption of one of Europe’s most prestigious cycling events is being seen not only as a humiliation for Spanish authorities but also as a dangerous politicization of sport. Critics argue that Sánchez has emboldened radical voices hostile to Israel, undermining Spain’s international reputation and sending a damaging signal to the sporting world.

For many observers, the incident highlights how Spain’s ruling Socialist Party and its far-left allies have systematically adopted an anti-Israel posture, alienating a key democratic ally in the Middle East while appeasing extremist movements at home.

As one commentator noted, “When a government panders to radicals at the expense of international sports and diplomacy, it is no longer leading — it is surrendering.”

With tensions running high, Sánchez now faces growing criticism not only abroad but also within Spain, where many fear his reckless stance is isolating the country on the global stage.