Israel drastically reduces its diplomatic representation in Turkey over security fears, while it protests recent statements from Ankara that accuse Israel of attempting “systematic genocide” against the Palestinian people.
After protests against Operation Protective Edge in front of Israel’s missions in Ankara and Istanbul turned violent, Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman instructs Israeli diplomats stationed in Turkey to return home. “It was decided to reduce our diplomatic representation in the country to the minimum possible [footprint],” Lieberman says in a statement.
The violent protests broke out after inciting speeches by Turkish Prime Minister (and presidential hopeful) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and because the country’s security forces did not properly fulfill their duty to prevent violence during the events, Liberman charges.
Demonstrators throw stones at the Israeli Embassy in Ankara, as they protest against Israel’s military action in Gaza, on July 18, 2014. (photo credit: AFP/Adem Altan)
On Thursday, Erdoğan fiercely attacked Israel’s operation against Hamas in Gaza.
“Since [Israel’s creation] in 1948 we have been witnessing this attempt at systematic genocide every day and every month,” he said. “But above all we are witnessing this attempt at systematic genocide every Ramadan.”
Israel is vehemently protesting Turkish authorities’ blatant and rude violation of diplomatic rules during the protests, including the 1969 Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, Liberman adds.
— Raphael Ahren
Help us report truthfully on social media
As a multimedia journalist, my job is to take the quality, fact-based journalism produced by The Times of Israel newsroom and make it accessible across every platform — from Instagram posts to podcasts to short-form videos.
This is how many, especially young people, consume news these days. But misinformation is rampant on social media. Our team at ToI produces accurate, responsible short-form reporting on Israel and the Jewish world.
If you believe in the importance of factual social media journalism, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. Your financial support is essential to sustain responsible multimedia reporting.
We’re really pleased that you’ve read X Times of Israel articles in the past month.
That’s why we started the Times of Israel - to provide discerning readers like you with must-read coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.
So now we have a request. Unlike other news outlets, we haven’t put up a paywall. But as the journalism we do is costly, we invite readers for whom The Times of Israel has become important to help support our work by joining The Times of Israel Community.
For as little as $6 a month you can help support our quality journalism while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing exclusive content available only to Times of Israel Community members.
Thank you, David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel
From the Liveblog of
Friday, July 18, 2014
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
