Spanish-Jewish businessman and philanthropist David Hatchwell Altaras accused Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez of “politicizing” Spain’s Vuelta a España and using Israel as a “smokescreen” after pro-Palestinian protests disrupted and ultimately forced the abandonment of the race’s final stage in Madrid on Sunday.
“Spain’s government and its corrupt Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have decided to use the smokescreen of Israel to hide his many personal scandals. The Spanish Vuelta Ciclista, one of the world’s most important cycling events, was shamefully politicized,” Hatchwell said in a message to The Jerusalem Post. He added that Sánchez “was officially congratulating the protesters for showing solidarity at the expense of destroying an international sports competition.”
Hatchwell continued: “Sánchez is an expert at creating smokescreens to hide his enormous corruption and deep ties to the Venezuelan narco regime. His wife and brother are under investigation for corruption… Sánchez uses Lawfare against the few people who dare oppose him,” citing legal pressure he and artist Nacho Cano faced this year over the Malinche musical before a higher court dropped the case.
He praised ACOM, the pro-Israel advocacy group he co-founded, for “leading a tough battle against Sánchez,” and called VOX “the main pro-Israel ally in Spain,” noting party leader Santiago Abascal’s recent visits to Israel. Abascal has visited Israel multiple times since October 7, including a trip in May 2024 that featured meetings with senior officials.
What happened at La Vuelta
Police repeatedly clashed with protesters along the capital’s Gran Vía on Sunday; organizers canceled the podium ceremony and declared Denmark’s Jonas Vingegaard the overall winner after the course was blocked. Authorities said two people were arrested and 22 police officers were injured.
Earlier in the day, Sánchez told a Socialist Party rally he felt “admiration for the Spanish people mobilizing for just causes like Palestine,” remarks that drew condemnation from Madrid’s mayor and Israel’s foreign minister and fueled criticism that the government had encouraged the disruptions.
The Israel-Premier Tech team had removed its full name from riders’ jerseys earlier in the race amid safety fears after repeated demonstrations targeted the squad.
Spain's policy backdrop
Spain formally recognized a Palestinian state in May 2024 and has since tightened pressure on Israel, including announcing last week that ships and aircraft carrying weapons bound for Israel would be barred from Spanish ports and airspace. Washington expressed concern over the measures.
Hatchwell’s broadside referenced several domestic cases now roiling Spanish politics. A judge opened an investigation into Sánchez’s wife, Begoña Gómez, earlier this year; a separate court case against the prime minister’s brother, David Sánchez, is also moving forward in Cáceres. Another controversy saw the detention of PSOE organizational secretary Santos Cerdán in August in a probe unrelated to La Vuelta.
Hatchwell also argued that the government leans on separatist and far-left partners in Parliament. Sánchez’s minority coalition governs with Sumar and relies on outside votes from parties including Catalan separatists and Basque left-wing coalition EH Bildu, which has long been criticized by Spanish conservatives for historic ties within the Basque radical milieu.
Hatchwell is a co-founder of ACOM, a leading Spanish pro-Israel advocacy group known for successful legal challenges to municipal boycotts.