Israel and New Zealand end diplomatic crisis 13 June 2017
Israeli Missions Around The World MFA Press Room 2017 Israel and New Zealand end diplomatic crisis 13 June 2017

Israel and New Zealand end diplomatic crisis

  • 6/13/2017
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    In the wake of high-level discussions between Israel and New Zealand, Prime Minister Netanyahu has decided to restore diplomatic relations and return Israel’s ambassador to Wellington.
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    Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (archive) Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (archive) Copyright: GPO/Amos Ben Gershom
     
     
    ​(Communicated by the Prime Minister's Media Adviser)

    Following discreet high-level bilateral discussions held over a period of several months by the Director-General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Yuval Rotem and MFA Deputy Director-General, Head of the Division for Asia and the Pacific Mark Sofer, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke on the telephone several days ago with New Zealand Prime Minister Bill English. 

    Following the discussions, PM English dispatched a letter to PM Netanyahu, in which he stated: "First and most importantly, as I said in our conversation, I regret the damage done to relations between New Zealand and Israel as a result of New Zealand's co-sponsorship of UNSC resolution 2334. We welcome the return of Israel's ambassador to Wellington."
     
    The Israeli ambassador to New Zealand was recalled to Jerusalem for consultations in the wake of New Zealand's co-sponsorship of UN Security Council Resolution 2334, together with Senegal, Malaysia and Venezuela.  

    In light of the telephone conversation and letter, PM Netanyahu instructed Dir-Gen Rotem to notify the New Zealand authorities of his decision to end the diplomatic crisis and to return Ambassador Itzhak Gerberg to his post in Wellington.

    Last Sunday (June 4 2017), after meeting with Senegal President Macky Sall at the ECOWAS Summit, PM Netanyahu decided to return Israel's ambassador to Dakar.