Spain has announced that Israeli companies will not be permitted to participate in the 2025 International Defense and Security Exhibition (FEINDEF) in Madrid.
Defense Secretary Amparo Valcarce stated that Israel’s exclusion aligns with Spain’s commitment to peace in Palestine and Lebanon and with international humanitarian law.
The decision comes due to heightened concerns over Israel’s activities in the occupied Palestinian territories and Lebanon. An incident in the West Bank, where Israeli soldiers allegedly attacked an international delegation, including Spanish representatives, also played a role in the ban.
Former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau and European Parliament member Jaume Asens, part of the delegation, were reportedly teargassed while accompanying Palestinians harvesting olives.
FEINDEF, ranked among the top global defense expos, will host over 400 companies from May 12–14, 2025, in Madrid.
