Zapatero defends José Blanco after comments on war in Lebanon

Zapatero defends José Blanco after comments on war in Lebanon
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By h.b. - Jul 25, 2006 - 6:07 PM

The PSOE Organisation Secretary, Jos� Blanco - Archive Photo EFE

Today José Blanco has said all the party wants to see is an end to the killing of innocents, be they Israelis or Lebanese

The political row over declarations made by José Blanco, the Organisation Secretary of the Socialist Party PSOE, is increasing.

Blanco claimed that Lebanese civilians were an objective of the Israeli bombings, and now the Israeli Ambassador in Spain, Victor Harel, has demanded an apology from the Socialist Party.

However, the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, has said that he is not worried about the situation. Speaking informally to journalists on a visit to León, Zapatero said that when the party had a statement, that was always made by the Organisation Secretary.

The Prime Minister added that when someone had a criticism of Spain they should not be called Anti-Spanish, and if someone has a difference of opinion with Israel, there is no reason to call them anti-Semite, and doing so was lamentable.

Zapatero said he thought it was normal that there were contradictory declarations given what was going on.

Contacts are however reported to be continuing from the Spanish Foreign Ministry to improve relations between the two countries.

Foreign Minister, Miguel Angel Moratinos, is reported to have called the ambassador and said that ‘misunderstandings have to be overcome’.

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