Israeli envoy summoned to Russia foreign ministry for 'unacceptable comments'

Israel’s ambassador to Russia, Simona Halperin, has arrived at the Russian foreign ministry, state-owned news agency RIA Novosti reports, a day after authorities said she would be summoned over “unacceptable comments” in an interview.

In the interview with the Kommersant newspaper, Halperin accused Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of playing down the importance of the Holocaust and said Russia was being too friendly with Palestinian terror group Hamas.

TASS says among other criticisms of Russia, Halperin was “disrespectful” of Moscow’s efforts to help secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.

Halperin took up her posting last month.