Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned Pakistan’s defence minister, who described Israel as “evil and a curse for humanity” and called for what he labelled the “cancerous state” to be eradicated.
In a since-deleted post on X, Khawaja Asif wrote that “Israel is evil and a curse for humanity, while peace talks are underway in Islamabad, genocide is being committed in Lebanon.
He added: “Innocent citizens are being killed by Israel, first Gaza, then Iran and now Lebanon, bloodletting continues unabated. I hope and pray people who created this cancerous state on Palestinian land to get rid of European jews [sic] burn in hell.”
Responding to the outburst, Netanyahu’s office said Asif’s “call for Israel’s annihilation is outrageous. This is not a statement that can be tolerated from any government, especially not from one that claims to be a neutral arbiter for peace.”
Israeli foreign minister Gideon Saar said the government “views very gravely these blatant antisemitic blood libels from a government claiming to mediate peace.
“Calling the Jewish state ‘cancerous’ is effectively calling for its annihilation,” he continued. “Israel will defend itself against terrorists who vow its destruction.”
Israeli ambassador to the United Stated Yechiel Leiter said: “The ayatollahs chanted ‘Death to Israel' – and now a so-called ‘mediator’ is echoing the same language. You are not a mediator Mr Asif, you are the problem. Even if it is to your dismay, Israel is here to stay. That’s not for negotiation.”
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