January 1, 2026 | 03:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Spanish government granted Airbus a special permit to produce aircraft and drones using Israeli technology at its Spanish factories. This decision, as reported by Al Arabiya, comes despite Spain's ban on military and dual-use products from Israel two months ago due to the genocide in Gaza.
Airbus, which employs around 14,000 people in Spain and accounts for 60 percent of the country's aeronautical and defense exports, was granted the first exemption in last week's cabinet meeting.
This was stated in a written record, citing the "great industrial and export potential" of its aircraft as "considered essential ... for preserving thousands of highly skilled jobs in Spain."
The European aerospace company produces the A400M and C295 transport aircraft, the A330 MRTT tanker aircraft, and the SIRTAP surveillance drone in its factories in Madrid and Seville, all of which use Israeli technology.
The company is working with the Spanish Ministry of Defense in a "plan to disconnect from Israeli technology," according to the minutes published last Tuesday, which did not provide further details.
Pressure Due to Sanctions
The exemption, approved last Tuesday by the cabinet and upheld by several ministers this week, reflects pressure from companies and domestic interests faced by some of the harshest European critics of Israel's recent genocide as they attempted to impose trade sanctions.
This also risks increasing tensions in the governing coalition between the Socialist Party and its hard-left wing partner, Sumar, at a time when the government is already weakened by internal disputes, corruption scandals, and sexual harassment allegations.
Neither Airbus nor the Spanish Ministry of Defense immediately provided comments.
Spain's measures against Israel were enacted in September.
Spain passed a law to take "urgent measures to stop the genocide in Gaza," prohibiting the trade of defense materials and dual-use products from Israel, as well as the import and advertising of products originating from illegal Israeli settlements.
Its consumer ministry on Tuesday ordered seven tourist accommodation websites to remove 138 holiday home ads in the occupied Palestinian territories or face sanctions in Spain.
Spain has blocked 200 attempts to purchase Israel-related materials, its digital transformation minister, Oscar Lopez, told national broadcaster TVE on Tuesday.
Read: Israel to Block 37 International Aid Groups from Operating in Gaza
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