Madrid, Sept. 10 -- Spain has barred two far-right Israeli government ministers from entering its territory in response to sanctions imposed by Israel on Spanish officials, escalating a diplomatic rift between Madrid and Tel Aviv.

Israeli ministers Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir "will not be able to enter Spanish territory," Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares announced during a press conference on Tuesday, September 9, Wafa News Agency reported.

Albares stressed that Spain had a "moral duty" to act in line with its national and European sovereignty and uphold international human rights standards.

Citing Spanish news agency El Pais, Anadolu reported that Albares said the decision was taken because both ministers are "directly in...