JERUSALEM\/ISTANBUL\u00a0<\/p>\n
Israel summoned the Ukrainian ambassador Wednesday for a reprimand after he criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s remarks about his contacts with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to Israeli media.<\/p>\n
Channel 7 reported that the Israeli Foreign Ministry summoned Yevgen Korniychuk following an interview he gave to the Yedioth Ahronoth daily in which he criticized Netanyahu\u2019s statements regarding his conversations with Putin.<\/p>\n
According to the daily, Yuval Fuchs, deputy director-general for Eurasian Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told the ambassador that \u201chis comments were entirely unacceptable and deviated from diplomatic protocol.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMoreover, the ambassador\u2019s remarks ignore Israel\u2019s clear position since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine \u2013 a position demonstrated, among other things, by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa\u2019ar\u2019s visit to Kyiv this year and Israel\u2019s votes at the United Nations,\u201d Fuchs added.<\/p>\n
In its statement cited by Channel 7, the Foreign Ministry said that Fuchs expressed hope that the ambassador\u2019s comments would align with the two countries\u2019 shared desire to continue strengthening their cooperation.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Netanyahu told the Knesset about his \u201cpersonal relationship\u201d with Putin, saying he speaks with him \u201con a regular basis\u201d to serve Israel\u2019s \u201cvital interests,\u201d including the defense of its northern border.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the Ukrainian ambassador responded to Netanyahu\u2019s statements, saying he \u201cwas surprised by Netanyahu\u2019s remarks, especially considering what Israel endured on Oct. 7. One must stand on the right, moral side of history.\u201d<\/p>\n