Israel strongly condemned what it called “outrageous” comments by Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif, questioning Pakistan’s credibility as a “neutral mediator”.
“The Pakistani defense minister’s call for the destruction of Israel is outrageous,” the Israeli prime minister’s office said in a post on X. “This is not a statement that can be tolerated by any government, especially not one that claims to be a neutral arbiter of peace,” the PMO said Thursday evening.
Pakistan is credited with brokering a temporary two-week truce between the US and Iran and is set to hold peace talks over the weekend.
What did Asif say?
However, in a post on social media, Asif called Israel “evil” and a “curse to humanity” and called for “getting rid of European Jews”.
Asif also claimed that “peace talks are going on in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon”.
“Israel is killing innocent citizens, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, the bloodshed continues unabated,” Asif said.
“I hope and pray that the people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian soil to get rid of European Jews (sic) burn in hell,” he added.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar also condemned Asif’s comments, saying: “These blatant anti-Semitic insults from a government that claims to be brokering peace.”
“Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow to destroy it,” Sa’ar said.
Netanyahu approves talks with Lebanon after Israeli strikes threaten Iran truce Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar rebuked Pakistan for his defense minister’s remarks, calling the Jewish state “cancerous” which Sa’ar said “calls for the destruction of Israel”.
“Israel takes very seriously these blatant anti-Semitic insults from a government that claims to be ‘mediating peace’. Calling the Jewish state ‘cancerous’ is actually calling for its destruction. Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow to destroy it,” Sa’ar said in a post on X.
Netanyahu allows direct talks with Lebanon
In what could boost efforts for a Middle East truce, Benjamin Netanyahu announced Thursday that he had approved direct talks with Lebanon to begin “as soon as possible.” The discussion will focus on disarming Hezbollah, which is supported by Iran, and possibly building relations between the two countries.
Although Israel and Lebanon have officially remained at war since 1948, Netanyahu has made it clear that there is currently no truce. In a video statement, he stressed that Israel will continue military attacks against Hezbollah until security is fully restored in northern Israel.
Lebanon’s health ministry said more than 300 people were killed and more than 1,100 wounded Wednesday in Israeli strikes on central Beirut and other areas of Lebanon that Israel said targeted Hezbollah, which has joined the war in support of Tehran.
(With input from agencies)
