Overview

• Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi instructed director-general Elad Makdasi to cancel all preparations for Israel’s participation and urged other ministries, including Economy Minister Nir Barkat’s, to follow suit.
• The move responds to Spain’s newly announced arms embargo on Israel and entry bans for people linked to alleged atrocities in Gaza, measures unveiled this week by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government.
• GSMA, the organizer of Mobile World Congress, had not issued a public response, and the event website still listed roughly 50 Israeli firms, including the Israel Export Institute, Sony’s local semiconductor unit, Allot, Ceragon Networks, Shield-IOT and startups slated for the 4YFN area.
• EL PAÍS reported the order appears focused on government-backed participation, leaving privately registered companies to decide independently unless pressure mounts.
• Tensions have escalated with Israeli leaders denouncing Spain’s position, as Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Gideon Saar issued sharp public condemnations following Madrid’s measures.