Ione Belarra, previous Minister of Social Rights and 2030 Agenda, and leader of the Spanish political party Podemos.
Calls in Spain to ban “Israeli” fans ahead of Real Madrid match
Spain’s opposition leader Ione Belarra called on her government to ban the basketball team of Maccabi Tel Aviv from entering the country, along with their fans, ahead of a Euroleague match with Real Madrid set for today, Tuesday.
Belarra submitted a formal request to Spain’s foreign and interior ministers to prohibit the entry of Maccabi Tel Aviv fans.
“It seems to me that it is clear that the people of our country have said loud and clear that they do not want relations with the Zionists, who are committing a genocide against the people of Palestine,” Belarra said on her X account.
“We have to prevent the entry of this basketball team and of all the Israeli fans that are supporting this genocide and that in addition has already generated problems of security in other countries, making apology of genocide and also spreading Islamophobia.
“We cannot allow it,” she declared.
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Ahead of the match, which is scheduled for today at 10:45 PM (GMT+3), Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares responded to Belarra saying they have separate politics and sports, according to Belarra.
“Enough of this hypocrisy,” she said in response, noting the minister’s double standards in excluding Russia from all sport competitions.
“It is time to break all ties with Israel, not only the sports, but also economic ties and diplomatic ties,” she added.
BDS Madrid organized a protest, along with other groups, and will take place at Plaza Salvador Dalí, situated close to the WiZink Center where the match is taking place.
