Simona Frankel is an Israeli Ambassador at Israel's Ministry for Foreign Affairs, currently serving as the Non-Resident Ambassador to The Republic of North Macedonia.[1] She is one of several ambassadors who have been criticised for comments they made about violence in the Gaza Strip. She was summoned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Israel) shortly after being "dressed down" by Belgium's Foreign Minister Didier Reynders "after she claimed that all Palestinians killed in border clashes earlier in the week were 'terrorists.'"[2][3][4] The controversy arose as a result of the Palestinians claiming the IDF killed a baby in their response to the riots at the border being the context under which the Ambassador's statement was made.[citation needed] Later on she was proven correct, as the Gaza ministry retracted their claim, as it was discovered the baby died a few days prior, and the family was paid to bring the body to the riot at the border so the IDF could be blamed for their death.[5][6]
In 2019, Prime Minister Xavier Bettel of Luxemburg did not attend the farewell dinner he had organized for her. Bettel, being gay himself, stated that "with all due respect to her work as ambassador, I can’t take part in a dinner for a representative from Israel, where one of its senior ministers made such comments about the LGBT community." (Referring to comments made by then Education Minister Rafi Peretz, advocating gay conversion therapy).[7] In response, Amir Ohana, then Israel's gay justice minister, noted that Bettel does not give a similar treatment to Iran.[8]
- ^ https://www.linkedin.com/in/simona-frankel-689946a8/details/experience/
- ^ Winer, Stuart (May 16, 2018). "Luxembourg summons Israeli ambassador for talks over Gaza violence". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Gaza massacre: "They were terrorists" says the Israeli ambassador to Belgium". Brussels Express. May 15, 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ Cetin, Serife (May 15, 2018). "Gaza killings: Belgium summons Israeli ambassador". Andolu Agency. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ Zikri, Almog Ben (2018-06-21). "Hamas paid Gaza family $2,200 to blame Israel for baby's death, indictment says". Haaretz. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ Balousha, Hazem; Holmes, Oliver (2018-05-24). "Gaza ministry removes baby from list of people killed by Israeli army". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-03-21.
- ^ Keinon, Herb (July 16, 2019). "Luxembourg PM avoids dinner for Israeli envoy due to Rafi Peretz comments". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ Roberts, Duncan (July 17, 2019). "Bettel criticised for turning down Israeli ambassador invite". Delano. Retrieved 1 September 2020.