Friday, 26 December 2008
Nablus – Ma’an – A high-ranking Spanish delegation was halted by the Israeli army Christmas day as the group made its way to Nablus.
The delegation, which consisted of 186 Spanish members of parliament, lawyers, university professors, artists and journalists, were stopped for close to two hours and were not permitted into the city until Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak was contacted and intervened.
The delegation was received by Nablus governor Jamal Muheisen, and Mayor of the city Adli Ya’eesh. They were given a tour of the city and learned about how the Israeli checkpoints and constant invasions effect life there.
Asked why he thought the delegation was stopped by the Israeli army Muheisen said noted “Spain was the last country that recognized Israel, and the first to open a Palestinian embassy.”
