Middle East Crisis: Spain and Israel in diplomatic row

The Israeli offensive in Lebanon has sparked a row in Spain and a diplomatic row with Israel amid accusations, hotly denied, of anti-Semitism within the Spanish government.

The diplomatic falling out came after Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero on Wednesday criticised Israel for using what he called "abusive force" in Lebanon. This lead to accusations from the conservative opposition that the government was anti-semitic.

“The silences of today in light of what is happening in the Middle East could become the regrets of tomorrow because waiting for time to pass costs human lives,” Zapatero said.

Ambassador Victor Harel, told an economic forum that relations between the two countries "are not going through their best phase."