Latin American Countries Register Diplomatic Protest

Israel expressed “deep disappointment” on Wednesday over the decision by El Salvador, Peru and Chile to recall their ambassadors for consultations in protest against Operation Protective Edge.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor issued a statement saying that the move “constitutes encouragement for Hamas, a group recognized as a terror organization by many countries around the world.”

Israel expected countries who oppose terrorism to “act responsibly and not to hand terrorists a prize,” Palmor said.

“So far, every time Israel accepted plans for a ceasefire and restoring calm, it was countered by Hamas rocket fire,” he said. The three Latin American countries” would have been much better advised to promote the international move intended to assist Israel in its efforts to defend innocent civilians and implement a durable ceasefire with the demilitarization of Gaza,” he added.

Last week, Brazil called its ambassador home over the Gaza fighting, a move which Palmor said showed Brazil to be a “diplomatic dwarf” despite its size in other respects.

This article appeared in print on page 5 of the July 31st, 2014 edition of Hamodia.