“Spain is one country for us, and the problems it faces these days are internal,” President Reuven Rivlin said in an address to both houses of the Spanish Parliament in a special plenary session held Tuesday. “Our relations with all the citizens of Spain are dear to us, and we pray that the current challenge will be solved through understanding.”
But, he added, “I expect Spain to continue to be a voice that emphasizes the importance of cooperation, a voice that opposes boycotts,” he said.
“Anyone who tries to harm the State of Israel by means of boycotts is personally sabotaging the chances of ever reaching a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and will find themselves on the wrong side of history,” Rivlin said.
“Iranian threats to destroy Israel cannot be tolerated. We have a clear expectation from Israel’s friends across the world to choose a side, not to accept attempts again to eradicate the Jewish people, neither by deeds or words.”
The President was received by both President of the Senate, Pío García-Escudero Márquez, and President of the Congress of Deputies, Ana María Pastor Julián, at a ceremony which included the playing of both national anthems and signing the official guestbook.
The President was then presented with both the Gold Medal of the Senate, and the Gold Medal of the Congress of Deputies, before being shown antique books from the Senate Library.