The Russian Foreign Ministry summons Israeli Ambassador Simona Halperin against the backdrop of her statements to the Russian newspaper Kommersant (Al Jazeera)
The Russian Foreign Ministry announced on Monday the summoning of Israeli Ambassador Simona Halperin due to “unacceptable” statements she made in an interview, according to the TASS news agency.
The ministry indicated that Halperin spoke distortedly about the Russian foreign policy position in the interview conducted with her by the Russian daily Kommersant, which was published yesterday, Sunday.
The Ministry expressed its dissatisfaction with the ambassador's statements, describing it as a "completely unsuccessful start" in her diplomatic position, which she began holding last December.
Halperin sparked harsh criticism in the interview, as she criticized Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, accusing him of downplaying the importance of the Holocaust. She indicated that Russia deals in an "overly friendly" manner with the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).
She added, "I do not understand why Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov downplays the importance of this brutal event."
The ambassador also said, "Moscow condemned Hamas' attack on Israel last October after it was too late," noting that Russia has not classified Hamas as a terrorist group, and is still in contact with its members.
Galperin believes that Moscow stands in solidarity with South Africa, which filed a lawsuit against Israel on charges of exterminating Palestinians before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. According to Israeli diplomatic sources, this reduces the level of sympathy among Israelis, including Russian speakers, with Russia.
Commenting on the ambassador's statements, the Russian Foreign Ministry said, "In view of the unacceptable public statements and distortion of the Russian foreign policy approach and historical facts, Ambassador Halperin will be summoned to the ministry."
The ministry continued that “thinking about the need to change the political calendar of the Russian state is considered interference in the internal affairs” of Russia.
Source: Agencies