Real Madrid soccer club was criticised by Israeli officials on Saturday after Ahed Tamimi, a teenager who was jailed after she attacked an Israeli policeman, was pictured being presented with a club shirt.
The 17-year-old said she had travelled to Spain to take part in social events.
Spanish sports daily Marca reports she was offered a Real shirt 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. AFP reports the club declined to comment when contacted.
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.”
Emmanuel Nahshon, spokesman for the Israeli foreign minister, described the Real Madrid welcome for Tamimi as “shameful”, describing her as “a terrorist inciting to hatred and violence”.
Tamimi was released from an Israeli prison in July after serving six-months in detention.
Tamimi and her mother were arrested by Israeli forces after a video showed the young woman, then 16, hitting and slapping two armed Israeli soldiers outside her home.
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