Junts pledges support for Israel arms embargo, leaving Podemos's stance crucial for approval

Junts has confirmed its vote in favor of the government's decree to embargo arms to Israel, but approval hinges on Podemos's decision, as the party deems the measure insufficient.

2 oct 2025 - 16:51 • 3 min read

Junts has announced its intention to vote in favor of the government's decree to embargo arms to Israel, a move that will be debated in Congress on Tuesday, October 7th. While this commitment from the Catalan pro-independence party offers a potential boost for the measure, its ultimate approval now rests heavily on the decision of Podemos, which has expressed strong reservations.

Sources within Junts confirmed their support to El Español, indicating that their vote will be cast in favor of the embargo. This comes as a surprise to some, including members of the governing coalition, who had anticipated a different stance from the party. However, the situation remains complex due to Podemos's critical view of the decree. The party, led by Ione Belarra, has described the current proposal as an "embargo fake" and is pushing for a more comprehensive and robust measure. Podemos insists that the government should withdraw the current decree and present a new one that constitutes a "real embargo."

Podemos has also rejected the offer to process the current text as a bill, a proposal put forward by Sumar to allow for amendments and potentially strengthen the embargo. Sources from Podemos argue that this procedural step would merely serve to keep the current text as is, with the possibility of indefinite extensions to the amendment period, thereby preventing any meaningful change.

An abstention from Podemos could be enough to see the embargo approved, given Junts's declared support and the backing of other coalition partners. However, the party has not yet definitively stated whether it will abstain or vote against the decree. Ione Belarra has been vocal in her criticism, pointing out that the current measure includes exceptions that undermine its effectiveness. She has also raised concerns about the government's continued use of the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware and has called for the embargo to extend to Israeli companies' subsidiaries.

Podemos's stance is further complicated by potential repercussions for Spanish companies. Socialists have warned that incorporating certain proposed amendments, such as extending the embargo to all Israeli subsidiaries, could negatively impact Basque company CAF, which is involved in the Jerusalem tram project. This, in turn, could alienate the PNV party.

Adding a layer of symbolic controversy, the vote is scheduled for October 7th, the second anniversary of the Hamas attacks on Israel. This timing has drawn criticism from opposition parties, including the PP, who have described the decision as "ruthless" and disrespectful to the victims of the attacks. The government's decision to bring the decree to a vote so quickly after its approval in the Council of Ministers, despite not having secured all necessary votes, has raised questions about its strategy and perceived haste, especially given the usual timeframe for validating decrees.

The embargo decree, announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on September 8th following pressure from left-wing partners, prohibits the trade of weaponry with the Israeli government. This comes amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, which has resulted in a significant number of Palestinian casualties.