Israel's ambassador in Spain, Raphael Schutz, who is about to leave his post, denounced the "anti-Semitism and hatred that exist in Spanish society" in a message on the embassy website Saturday.

Schutz, who served in the post for a total of four years, referred to his time in Spain as "not very pleasant."

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"I am ending a four-year term as Israel's ambassador to Spain and returning to Israel to continue my diplomatic career in the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem," he wrote in the message.

''I also take with me the hatred and the anti-Semitism that still exist in Spanish society, and which I experienced personally," he wrote. The outgoing ambassador cited Israel's Operation Cast Lead in Gaza in 2008-9 and the lethal flotilla raid in 2010 as especially difficult periods.

However, the Israeli diplomat also said that ''I had experienced some positive, very warm and very exciting moments'', making note of the celebration earlier this year of the 25th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Spain and Israel.

Schutz ended his message optimistically, writing that relations between Israel and Spain were just starting to flourish and concluding: "See you soon in Spain."

Jose Danon contributed to the article