The conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is "much more explosive" than the Iranian nuclear crisis, Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri said in an interview published Wednesday. The Middle East conflict "is much more explosive, brimming over with 'uranium and extremism', than any other regional issue," he told the Spanish newspaper El Mundo, without elaborating.

Hariri, who is expected for a two-day visit in Madrid on Thursday, said Lebanon was in favour of a "Middle East without nuclear weapons" which he said "includes Israel" and not only Iran.

As Hariri prepares to make his second visit to Syria since taking office in November, he also said closer ties with Damascus were key to counter an "Israeli threat".

"Stronger ties with Syria mean there is a firmer position toward Israel," Hariri said. He also accused the media of under-reporting Israeli "atrocities" toward the Palestinians.

While paedophile priests in the Roman Catholic Church were given "extensive media coverage" amid "attacks against the Vatican", "atrocities committed by Israel against Palestinians" go practically unreported, said Hariri, who is a Muslim. For Israel "war is always an option", he added.