Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares is in favor of removing Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta a España. “We need to send a message to Israel, to Israeli society,” the politician stated on the radio station RNE.
Those involved with the Vuelta previously indicated they hoped Israel-Premier Tech would voluntarily withdraw to prevent new dangerous protests. Among them, the organization’s technical director, Kiko Garcia, was outspoken. “I understand that, and I would definitely be in favor,” Foreign Minister Albares said later in a radio interview .
According to Albares, the Spanish government has no power to remove Israel-Premier Tech from the Vuelta a España. “You know that this is not a decision of the Spanish government. It is a decision of the UCI. So the Spanish government has no say over participation.”
“We cannot continue our relationship with Israel as if nothing is happening,” Albares said. “We need to send a message to Israel, to Israeli society. They must understand that Europe and Israel can only interact when human rights are respected. Because as democratic countries, we base and maintain our relations in that way.”
The Spanish politician tries to support his position with the argument that currently Russian and Belarusian sports teams are also banned from cycling competitions by the UCI. In 2022, the international cycling federation implemented this measure following the advice of the IOC (International Olympic Committee).
