Israeli anger at Turkish embassy invitation for Shaikh Raed Salah

Israel’s foreign ministry has sent a harsh message to Turkey’s ambassador in Tel Aviv, Kemal Ökem, for inviting leading Palestinian activist Shaikh Raed Salah to break his fast at an Iftar function at the ambassador’s home, Ynet News reported on Friday.

The ministry’s anger was stirred by seeing a photograph on the embassy’s Twitter account taken at the reception which showed the leader of the Islamic Movement in Israel and other Muslim figures standing alongside the ambassador.

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According to the Israeli website, political sources in Israel believe that the decision to invite Salah came from Ankara and not as a private initiative of Mr Ökem.

Shaikh Raed has been imprisoned by Israel on a number of occasions for his activism on behalf of Palestinian civil and human rights. He is known locally as “Shaikh of Al-Aqsa” for his activities to protect Al-Aqsa Mosque against the nefarious designs of Israeli extremists.