Spain Summons Israeli Diplomat For Attack On UNIFIL

UN tactical vehicles pass through Lebanese/DOK UN territory

JAKARTA - Spain's Foreign Ministry summoned Israel's ad interim attorney in Madrid to protest over the attack on the UN Temporary Forces in Lebanon (UNIFIL).

The move follows in the footsteps of Italy and France who do the same.

"In addition to the attack, the summons of Israeli diplomats was also due to their recent statements about Spain and the Spanish," El Pais said as quoted by ANTARA from Sputnik, Saturday, October 12.

A statement issued by the Israeli State Department last week claiming "Spain has become a haven to sow hatred and incite Israeli destruction" after the Palestinian Alternative Revolutionary Path Movement (Masar Badil) conference and protests taking place in Madrid last week.

Earlier that day, the Spanish government condemned the Israeli attack on UNIFIL's headquarters in the city of Naqura, Lebanon and urged Israel to immediately end the attack.

The attacks on UNIFIL took place on Thursday and Friday and injured a number of peacekeepers.

Since October 1, Israel has launched ground operations against the Hezbollah movement in southern Lebanon while continuing airstrikes, resulting in 2,000 deaths, the Lebanese Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

Despite losses, the Hezbollah group has fought Israeli forces on land and launched rockets crossing the border.

Israel admits their main goal was to create conditions that would allow the return of 60,000 Israelis fleeing from shootings in northern Israel.