Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., April 03, 2009 Nisan 9, 5769 | | Israel Time: 19:11 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Joy of Giving Travel Week's End Anglo File
Comments:  41
Last update - 19:10 03/04/2009
Mauritania expels Israeli ambassador
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent, and Agencies
Tags: Israel News, Mauritania, Gaza 

The Foreign Ministry said Friday it had closed its embassy after the government of this overwhelmingly Muslim West African nation asked the Israeli ambassador and his staff to leave.

The move came after Mauritania's military junta recalled its own ambassador from Israel last month. In January, Mauritania said it was suspending ties with Israel over its military offensive against Hamas in Gaza.

"Following the Mauritanian government's decision, on January 16th 2009, to freeze diplomatic relations with Israel, and at its request, Israel will close its embassy in Nouakchott as of today," Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor said in a statement.
Advertisement

Mauritanian authorities had asked the Israeli Embassy to close within 48 hours, according to a Mauritanian government official who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to journalists.

The West African state's Communications Minister said Friday's move was a result of a decision taken at a meeting of Arab leaders in Doha in mid-January.

"We informed them [Israel] of the decision to suspend relations at the time of the summit in Doha, and it is now being executed," El Kory Ould Abdel Mola told Reuters. "The embassy is closed."

Israeli embassy personnel were seen packing up and taking down security cameras on Friday. The Israeli ambassador declined to comment to journalists.

Another official close to Mauritanian military ruler General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz said the decision to expel the Israeli diplomats followed January's decision to freeze relations with the state.

"This is the logical consequence of the freezing of relations between Israel and Mauritania ... there is nothing new," said the official, who declined to be identified.

"This was expected. After General Aziz took the decision at the Doha summit, an envoy from the Mauritanian Foreign Ministry sent a letter to the ambassador of Israel to leave the country," the official said.

Mauritania is one of only three Arab League countries to have diplomatic ties with Israel, alongside Jordan and Egypt. Diplomatic relations between Mauritania and Israel were established in October 1999.

About 1,300 Palestinians ? many of whom civilians - were killed in Israel's three-week Gaza campaign against Hamas militants, Palestinian officials said. 13 Israelis were also killed in the offensive, which Israel launched to combat cross-border rocket fire by Gaza militants.

The Israeli action sparked protests through the Arab and Muslim world, including Mauritania, where tens of thousands of people took to the streets of Nouakchott in protest.


Related articles:
  • Mauritania says it has closed its embassy in Israel
  • Mauritania recalls ambassador from Israel in wake of Gaza offensive
  • Parting words become just that for Mauritania's president
  • Mauritanian security forces detain president in apparent coup d'etat
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Israel's new policy
    FM Lieberman: Israel not bound by Annapolis commitment for Palestinian state.
    Netanyahu's cabinet:
    An introduction to the faces - some old and some new - who make up Israel's new coalition.
      1.   So What? 14:03  |  Mohammedou 06/03/09
      2.   It says more about them than us! 16:22  |  SA 06/03/09
      3.   this=Venzuela, Cuba, Bolivia etc, who cares 16:33  |  James 06/03/09
      4.   Just silly 16:43  |  baurat 06/03/09
      5.   that should anger micronesia 16:54  |  A compliment 06/03/09
      6.   Thanks to masuritanian people 17:30  |  Salem Awaad 06/03/09
      7.   do not be ignorant 17:35  |  jacques 06/03/09
      8.   the Rest of the world must follow 17:52  |  Dav 06/03/09
      9.   # 3 James "who cares" 18:36  |  Axel 06/03/09
      10.   Salem Awaad on "arrogance"!!!? 18:36  |  Akiva P 06/03/09
      11.   so what did you expect from a country with 3,000,000 muslims? 18:44  |  Swiss{Dino} 06/03/09
      12.   Backward people as usual....that`s why this country 19:01  |  Maria 06/03/09
      13.   Baurat...that`s the way backward people are! 19:03  |  Maria 06/03/09
      14.   Oh no! Whatever will we do! Where`s Mauritania again? 19:19  |  Dan 06/03/09
      15.   Fire Crackers? Whose ignorant? 19:33  |  Ben 06/03/09
      16.   WHO CARES? 19:36  |  4:20 06/03/09
      17.   Other states should follow Mauritania`s good example... 19:59  |  Dutch 06/03/09
      18.   Salem-Awaad # 6 20:05  |  Bill H. 06/03/09
      19.   #1 Don`t worry 20:19  |  MarkC 06/03/09
      20.   Nobody likes us, we don`t care! 20:43  |  Manny Goldstein 06/03/09
      21.   It`s disgraceful 3rd world countries are left to reprimand Israel 20:59  |  Dutch 06/03/09
      22.   It`s a sad commentary ... 21:21  |  Dutch 06/03/09
      23.   The Moors Are At It Again 21:32  |  Jeff Northridge 06/03/09
      24.   no escape 21:40  |  mostafa lamrabet 06/03/09
      25.   ignorant #7 03:04  |  Israel is the best! 07/03/09
      26.   Salam Awaad 05:01  |  Arnold 07/03/09
      27.   4. You are right. It is JUST SILLY that Mauritania decided to.. 08:10  |  Vittorio 07/03/09
      28.   Why would Israel be bothered about Mauritania 08:11  |  Palestinian Brit 07/03/09
      29.   # 2 to sa in herzliya 08:36  |  eric 07/03/09
      30.   # 10 hey jeff, don`t you know that integrity can`t be bought? 09:47  |  eric 07/03/09
      31.   To Palestinian Brit 09:53  |  Danny 07/03/09
      32.   THIS IS NOT A GOOD SIGN, ISRAEL, BELIEVE ME 10:07  |  indrajaya 07/03/09
      33.   Mauritania is a country? 11:06  |  Baruch Gold 07/03/09
      34.   #15 ,palestinian brit. 12:56  |  james hazan 07/03/09
      35.   I forgot to mention 13:06  |  james hazan 07/03/09
      36.   Danny 13:49  |  Palestinian Brit 07/03/09
      37.   DOES ISRAEL REALLY CARE FOR THIS 14:43  |  MJ 07/03/09
      38.   i hope.... 16:36  |  ravi 07/03/09
      39.   Things you did not know about Israel 19:38  |  Gil 07/03/09
      40.   # 12 to the one in CANADA who makes claims re israel 07:41  |  eric 08/03/09
      41.   mauritania 19:40  |  Jack Harvey 08/03/09
     Haaretz Hot Topics
    Air strike in Sudan
    Israel 2009 election results: Voter breakdown
    Conflict in Gaza
    Israel vs. Hamas
    Iran: Nuclear and regional ambitions
    More Headlines
    17:36 Police grill Lieberman for second time in three days
    19:07 UN picks South African Jew to head Gaza war crimes inquiry
    10:03 Livni: Lieberman ruined years of peace efforts in just 20 minutes
    08:48 Israel fears Jewish extremists will avenge settlement murder
    08:50 ANALYSIS / Settlement attack plays into new government's hands
    09:21 U.S. green light for Israeli attack on Iran will have to wait
    16:06 IN PICTURES: Tel Avivians take to the streets to celebrate centennial
    11:13 WATCH: Daily news round-up from Israel
    18:14 'Failure to appoint health minister is like outbreak of disease'
    12:53 Father of Bat Ayin terror victim, 7, gets prison furlough to visit son
    15:53 High-sea search for Jewish pirates takes heritage tours by storm
    02:58 Haaretz exclusive: The man who bribed Indians for Israeli arms sales
    07:11 Finding refuge from the Colombian Mafia in Israel
    Previous Editions
    Special Offers
    Advertisement
    Spring Specials-Dan Hotels
    Jerusalem from 179$. Tel-Aviv from 223$. Herzliya from 336$
    Dead Sea Skin Care
    Quality cosmetics from the Dead Sea. Coupon code HAARETZ for 12% off!
    Camp Kimama Israel 2009
    The best place for your children this summer
    Eldan Rent a Car
    Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
    Jewish Singles Personal Ads
    Find the love of your life on JDate.com
    Junkyard
    Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
    Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | | Israel 2009 election results
    Site rules | Makom: Engaging on Israel | Search engine marketing
    Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
    © Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved