Basque police, the Ertzaintza, descended on Loiu Airport with batons drawn. They attacked the activists and the friends and family who had gathered to welcome them home. Four people were arrested, charged with “desobediencia grave, resistencia y atentado a agente de la autoridad” — the standard playbook for criminalizing solidarity.
The images are shocking: police beating people who had just survived Israeli captivity. People being dragged and handcuffed as they step off a plane, bringing back evidence of Israeli war crimes.
The truth is, the Ertzaintza has a long-standing, multifaceted relationship with Israel that goes far beyond the Spanish government’s official positions on Palestine.
Let’s be clear about what we’re talking about:
Technology & Equipment: The Ertzaintza has purchased Israeli technology and equipment for years. Its phone-tapping system comes from Verint Systems, an Israeli company with deep ties to Israeli military intelligence. An Israeli firm, ICTS, has managed security at some of their facilities. They’ve used Israeli body armor, surveillance cameras, and listening devices.
Training & Services: The Ertzaintza has participated in training from Israeli sources, including courses from Guardian Defense & Homeland Security — a company run by a former Mossad agent that has provided “live fire” training to Spanish police.
Financial Ties: These aren’t minor transactions. Basque institutions have reportedly spent over €1.66 million on contracts with Israeli-linked security companies. In 2021 the Ertzaintza signed a contract for €3,569.50 just for “supply of stun and distraction grenade carriers” from these same Israeli sources.
I like the OP comment with this. In the West, with no exceptions, the police has completely been going through a militarization culture. The Israel involvement with all these police departments is just part of it all since the US promotes that inter-police-collaboration and sources sharing, unaware Europeans that there is an agenda with it all. That started with US movies and series for decades keep portraying the “efficiency” of such models and then when Europe offer its hand to US after 9-11, US took the arm. Of course, Western governments welcomed it all and gave the funds for the total conversion. Israel/US are just very good at using movies, media and unparalleled inside access to filtrate into procurement channels of the Western Police departments.
But, unlike US, there is hope for a handful of European police forces to be retrained to serve the community back. I just don’t see it the political will thought, not even in Sanchez’s government (that is very fragile at the moment anyways). The reason for hope is that the people that join the Spanish police, for instance, are highly representative of the society when joining… it just gets the toxic culture of militarization and power once inside through politicians endorsement and police unions. In the US, the people that join the police forces come already with the toxic culture (and far less trained individuals too!).
Let’s see the Basque official statement in this event on Tuesday; I hope there will be a bit of criticism on their police action, since it clearly overacted with just someone “no obeying an order to stand back” in a mundane situation; but not much hope for even that concession to be frank.