Netanyahu Featured on Billboard in Spanish Socialist Election Campaign

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been featured on a campaign billboard by the Socialists' Party of Catalonia (PSC), affiliated with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, ahead of the general elections scheduled for November 29.

The billboard depicts Netanyahu alongside several other international figures, including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Argentine President Javier Milei. The campaign poster aims to warn the public against the strengthening of the political right. Featuring the photos of six political figures, the banner bears the Catalan slogan: "If you don't vote, they rule." Below it, the text reads: "On November 29, vote for democracy, vote for PSC." Alongside the four international leaders, the poster also features Alberto Nunez Feijoo, leader of the conservative People's Party, and Santiago Abascal, leader of the far-right Vox party.

The campaign reflects the political line led by Sanchez, who is widely regarded as one of Europe's most critical leaders regarding Israel. His government officially recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024, and Sanchez has repeatedly accused Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. During a campaign speech on November 7 in Tarragona, Sanchez declared: "On November 29, we will tell them with our votes that Spain is ruled from Spain, not from Washington, not from Tel Aviv, not from Buenos Aires, and not from Moscow." He added that Spain would not become the backyard of the international far-right.

Relations between the governments of Israel and Spain have deteriorated sharply following the outbreak of the war in Gaza. Sanchez has taken a series of diplomatic steps against Israel, accompanied by harsh criticism of Netanyahu's government policies. Israeli officials have accused the Spanish prime minister of adopting a one-sided stance and ignoring Hamas's responsibility for the conflict. The friction has also become a central issue in Spain's domestic politics, with left-wing parties supporting tougher measures against Israel, while right-wing parties accuse Sanchez of exploiting foreign policy for partisan gains.

The snap elections were called after Sanchez announced the dissolution of parliament in October. According to public opinion polls, the People's Party currently leads the Socialists, though it may require the support of Vox to form a government. The Socialists are seeking to mobilize disillusioned left-wing voters amid a housing crisis, corruption scandals, and criticism of governmental performance. By featuring Netanyahu alongside Putin and Trump, the ruling party attempts to frame the local election as a broader struggle against what Sanchez describes as an international right-wing alliance threatening democratic values.