Israel's envoy to Spain said on Thursday the two countries' relations had been damaged after the
Spanish prime minister accused Israel of using "abusive force" during an event at which he also wore a Palestinian scarf.
Spain's ability to use its influence to help defuse the growing Middle East conflict could suffer following the speech by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero to a meeting of young Socialists on Wednesday, Ambassador Victor Harel said. "Each declaration which is not balanced has consequences for
parties who want to use their influence," Harel told reporters at Madrid's Ritz Hotel where he listened to Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos at a conference. Relations with Spain "are not in their best moment", he said. (Reuters)