Diplomatic row flares between Israel, New Zealand
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WELLINGTON - A diplomatic row flared Monday between Israel and New Zealand after officials from the South Pacific nation said their new ambassador was rejected by Israel because he's also an envoy to the Palestinian Authority.
New Zealand officials said that since 2008, their ambassadors in Turkey have been responsible for covering a large swath of territory. But they said Israel has refused to accept their latest appointment to the post, Jonathan Curr, who was due to travel to Jerusalem in the coming days to present his papers.
"A few days ago, Israel advised New Zealand that it would not accept as ambassador a person who was also a representative to the Palestinian Authority," Foreign Minister Murray McCully said in a statement.
