Israel accuses Real Madrid of 'encouraging aggression' after hosting Tamimi
Real Madrid were criticized by Israeli officials on Saturday after Ahed Tamimi, a teenager associated with Palestinian resistance to the Israeli occupation, was pictured being presented with a club shirt.
The 17-year-old became a Palestinian protest icon after she was caught on tape slapping an Israeli soldier outside her home in the West Bank, is visiting Spain this week with her family to participate in various social and political events.
According to top Spanish sports daily Marca, she was offered a Real jersey with her name printed on the back and posed for photos with Emilio Butragueno, the club's former striker and now director of institutional relations.
However, Real Madrid has not issued any official statement regarding her invitation on its social networks or website. When contacted by AFP, the club declined to comment.
Daniel Kutner, Israel's ambassador to Spain, wrote on Twitter: "Ahed Tamimi does not fight for peace, she defends violence and terror, the institutions that have received and celebrated her indirectly encourage aggression and not the dialogue and understanding that we need."
Kutner reportedly passed a letter to the mayor of Madrid protesting the warm reception Tamimi received over the weekend.
Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesman for the Israeli foreign minister, described the apparent welcome Real Madrid gave Tamimi as "shameful", describing her as "a terrorist inciting to hatred and violence".
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Embassy spokesman Yoav Katz tweeted that Real Madrid was “receiving a terrorist who incites hatred and violence.”
Tamimi was arrested on December 19, days after she was recorded on video with her cousin Nour Tamimi in the yard of their home telling two soldiers to leave then shoving, kicking and slapping them.
On March 21 the court agreed a plea bargain giving her an eight-month sentence including time already spent in custody, allowing her to be released Sunday July 29.
For Palestinians, Tamimi became a hero, jailed for standing up to soldiers occupying her land and intruding upon her family home.
To many Israelis, the young activist personifies how Palestinians encourage their children to hate and how they try to manipulate the media.