Israel and Turkey have continued tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats over violence in Gaza that has killed at least 60 Palestinians. It comes ahead of a meeting of Arab foreign ministers to discuss “Israeli aggression.”
Turkey has ordered the Israeli consul general in Istanbul, Yosef Lefi-Sfari, to temporarily leave the country, in the latest development of an ongoing spat between the two countries, Turkish state media reported Wednesday.
Netanyahu is the PM of an apartheid state that has occupied a defenseless people's lands for 60+ yrs in violation of UN resolutions.
He has the blood of Palestinians on his hands and can't cover up crimes by attacking Turkey.
Want a lesson in humanity? Read the 10 commandments.
— Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (@RTErdogan) May 15, 2018
The move comes after Israel’s Foreign Ministry summoned a top Turkish diplomat to be reprimanded for his country’s “harsh” treatment of Israel’s ambassador in Ankara, Eitan Naeh, who Turkey temporarily expelled on Tuesday.
Also on Wednesday, the Israeli Foreign Ministry said Umut Deniz, the Turkish charge d’affaires in Tel Aviv, was being summoned because of the “inappropriate treatment” of Naeh.
Erdogan is among Hamas's biggest supporters and there is no doubt that he well understands terrorism and slaughter. I suggest that he not preach morality to us
— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) May 15, 2018
The spat between the two countries has seen Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan exchange heated words on Twitter.
Erdogan tweeted that Netanyahu “has the blood of Palestinians on his hands.”
Netanyahu hit back on Twitter, saying “Erdogan is among Hamas’s biggest supporters and there is no doubt that he well understands terrorism and slaughter. I suggest that he not preach morality to us.”
Arab foreign ministers to hold talks
Arab foreign ministers will hold an emergency meeting at the Arab League on Thursday to “confront the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people,” state media reported Tuesday.At least 60 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces in Gaza since protests amplified on Monday following the opening of the US embassy in Jerusalem and the Nakba commemoration of Israel’s founding.
Egypt’s state news agency MENA quoted an Arab diplomatic source as saying the meeting was also “to confront the illegal decision taken by the United States to move its embassy to occupied Jerusalem.”
The source also said the Arab League was due to hold a preparatory meeting on Wednesday at the level of permanent representatives.
Earlier this week, Saudi Arabia released a brief statement of condemnation and reaffirmed its support for “the Palestinian brotherly people” and their “legitimate rights.”
Guatemala first to follow US
Despite condemnation from much of the world on the US embassy decision, Guatemala also moved its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem on Wednesday, making it the first country to follow in the footsteps of the US.
“This is an important moment for the future of our peoples,” Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales said at the embassy inauguration ceremony.
“It is not a coincidence that Guatemala is opening its embassy in Jerusalem right among the first, you were always among the first. You were the second country to recognize Israel,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.
Paraguay is next in line to move its embassy to Jerusalem later this month.
Early this month while visiting Venezuela, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called for Latin American countries not to move their embassies to Jerusalem, saying East Jerusalem was “the capital of the Palestinian state.”