Spanish PM in scarf scandal

2006-07-20 13:08

Madrid - Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has come under criticism for posing with a Palestinian scarf on his shoulders after accusing Israel of using force "abusively" to defend itself, press reports said on Thursday.

Zapatero commented on the Middle East conflict at an international Socialist youth festival in Alicante, which was attended by more than 3 000 people including Palestinians and Israelis on Wednesday.

The premier condemned both the kidnappings of Israeli soldiers and the use of "abusive force which does not allow innocent human beings to defend themselves".

Scarf placed on shoulders

A Palestinian participant placed the traditional Palestinian scarf, or kaffiyeh, on Zapatero's shoulders to be photographed with him.

Gustavo de Aristegui, spokesperson for the opposition conservative Popular Party (PP), called the photo "unfortunate" in the present Middle East situation. Sources of Zapatero's Socialist Party said he had not sought to be photographed in that way.

Aristegui accused the government of anti-Semitism and of applying a "double standard" in the Middle East.

Attacks condemned

Foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos rejected such charges, stressing that Spain had clearly condemned the attacks of Hamas and Hezbollah against Israel as well as the latter's "disproportionate" use of force.

"It is one thing to say the Israeli response has been disproportionate - a criterion that we share - and a very different thing to adopt Manichean positions in a conflict which is very complex and not a story of good and bad guys," the conservative daily El Mundo said in an editorial.

Spain has evacuated more than 600 people from Lebanon within five days. - Sapa-dpa

- News24