Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked anger after he tweeted in support of US President Donald Trump’s plans to build a wall along the border with Mexico.
President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea
— Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) January 28, 2017
The comments enraged Mexicans, who have previously expressed their opposition to the construction of the barrier, one of Trump’s key campaign promises.
Representatives of Mexico’s Foreign Minister Luis Videgaray highlighted their disquiet at the tweet in a phone call to Israel’s embassy in the Mexican capital on Saturday.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry later published a clarification, saying that "the prime minister was addressing Israel's unique circumstances and the important experience we have and which we are willing to share with other nations.”
“There was no attempt to voice an opinion regarding U.S.-Mexico ties."
Many Twitter users, including Mexicans, have expressed their outrage at the tweet:
.@netanyahu This is a dangerously inaccurate comparison considering the non-violent motivations of Mexican immigrants. Shame on you!
— Julia Reiss (@thereisspiece) January 28, 2017
Lamento apoyo de @netanyahu a Trump. Me parece inconcebible viniendo de quien representa a un pueblo perseguido por el fascismo. ¿Ya olvido?
— Fernando Belaunzarán (@ferbelaunzaran) January 28, 2017
I am sorry that @netanyahu supports Trump. It seems to me inconceivable coming from someone who represents a people haunted by fascism. Did you already forget?
@netanyahu Can't believe your Tweet, didn't you think a second on the 60,000 Jewish people that lives in Mexico. Shame on you Bibi.
— Joshúa Maya (@PlaysOfTheWeek) January 29, 2017
An Arab Member of the Israeli Knesset, Ahmad Tibi tweeted the following in response to Netanyahu's words:
הופרדו בלידתם.. https://t.co/RnxtbPpUIW
— Ahmad Tibi (@Ahmad_tibi) January 28, 2017
[Trump and Netanyahu were] separated at birth.
Netanyahu's tweet came after Trump told Fox News on Thursday that: "The wall is necessary because people want protection and a wall protects. All you have to do is ask Israel."
Israel began constructing its wall on what it claims to be the border with the West Bank in 2003, framing it as a security measure. However, activists have described the barrier, which now stretches 708 kilometers, as an “apartheid wall”. They claim the wall, which cuts 18 kilometers into Palestinian territory, violates Palestinians’ freedom of movement and divides up families.
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