German FM refuses to answer Netanyahu’s call

Germany’s Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel refused to take a call from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday after the PM backed out of a meeting with him.

Israeli news sites reported that Netanyahu had called with the intention of explaining to Gabriel the reasons behind his refusal to meet him.

Germany: Netanyahu’s threat to cancel meeting ‘regrettable’

A statement from the prime minister’s office said: “Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s policy is not to meet with diplomats who visit Israel and meet with organisations that defame IDF soldiers and seek to prosecute them as war criminals.”

The comments came after it was reported that Gabriel had intended to meet human rights organisations B’Tselem and Breaking the Silence during his visit to Israel.

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