Spanish children urge Israeli envoy to 'stop murdering Palestinians'
Reageer (0)Israeli Embassy in Madrid receives hundreds of letters of protest from local pupils. 'Why does Israel murder Palestinians?' one letter notes. Foreign Ministry protests phenomenon
By Roni Sofer
28-2-2010
The Foreign Ministry's Deputy Director of European Affairs Naor Gilon protested via telephone to Spanish Ambassador to Israel Alvaro Iranzo the delivery of letters written by Spanish school children to Israel's Ambassador in Madrid, Rafael Shotz.
Israel's Embassy in Madrid has recently been receiving children's letters expressing protest of Israel's conduct towards the Palestinians. The Foreign Ministry is concerned that the students who wrote the letters were being instigated by their teachers. One letter directed at the ambassador noted, "How many Palestinians have you murdered today?"
Another read, "Mr. Ambassador you should think about not killing the Palestinian children and elderly. I don't know if it doesn't bother you, having to murder people. You should leave Palestine."
During Gilon's conversation with the Spanish envoy the latter stressed that the Spanish education system was not responsible for the phenomenon and that no instruction to write such letters had been issued. Gilon, nevertheless, expressed Israel's wish that the practice be halted immediately.
Since Operation Cast Lead, Europe has seen a growing number of attacks on Israel, its officials and institutions. This also includes what is referred to locally as "the new anti-Semitism," which in essence culminates in anti-Zionist and anti-Israel attitudes.
European Jews have also faced an increasing number of attacks. Israel's PR outlay is trying to fight the phenomenon, but with little success.
The embassy in Madrid also received letters from human rights organization Amnesty International urging Israel to lift the Gaza blockade and address such issues as the water shortage suffered by Gazans.
Source
