Spanish FM cancels meeting with Israel's

JERUSALEM, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- An Israeli official says a decision by Spain's top diplomat to cancel a meeting with his Israeli counterpart indicates Spain's priorities are "distorted."

Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos was to meet with Israel's top diplomat, Avigdor Lieberman, but Moratinos was called back to Madrid to meet Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the Jerusalem Post reported.

Before traveling to Spain, Chavez met with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who sought guarantees from Chavez that Venezuela would supply gasoline to Iran in the event of international embargoes, the newspaper said.

Moratinos's office said Lieberman and Moratinos had several telephone conversations during the course of the week and favorable communications will continue, but Robert Tibaev of the Kadima party -- a member of the Israeli parliament -- complained about the Spanish government's decision.

"Despite our differences with Lieberman (of the rival Yisrael Beitenu party), the fact that the Spanish foreign minister cancels a meeting with the Israeli foreign minister in order to be present at a meeting with the dictator from Venezuela, testifies first and foremost to the distorted priorities of the Spanish government," Tibaev said.