Israeli president apologises to Mexico on behalf of Netanyahu
Head of State Reuven Rivlin said sorry for the Israeli Prime Minister's controversial tweet in support of president Donald Trump's proposed border wall
Israel’s president has had to apologise to Mexico on behalf of Israel’s prime minister, after Benjamin Netanyahu sent a tweet commending Donald Trump’s decision to build a wall along the U.S-Mexican border.
President Reuven Rivlin was forced to save his country’s blushes and mend relations with the Central American state after Netanyahu said walling off Mexicans was “a great idea”.
Aping Trump’s favourite form of online communication, Israel’s prime minister tweeted: “President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel’s southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea.”
Mexican leaders reacted angrily, and demanded an apology from Netanyahu, which was not forthcoming, precipitating Rivlin’s intervention.
He told his Mexican counterpart Enrique Peña Nieto that he was “sorry for any hurt caused as a result of this misunderstanding, but we must remember that we are talking about a misunderstanding. I am sure that we can put the issue behind us”.
It emerged this week that Israeli security company Magal, which built the wall around Gaza, was pitching for work on the construction of Trump’s border barrier, citing its success in keeping Israel safe.
Keep community journalism free.
Jewish News is free for everyone. No paywall. No barriers. Just trusted journalism for anyone who wants to stay connected to Jewish life in Britain.
If you value that, please support us.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Every day, we report on the issues that matter to our community. We celebrate achievements, support charities, challenge antisemitism and ensure Jewish voices are heard more widely.
From as little as £5 a month, you can help us continue to:
- Report on the stories shaping Jewish life in the UK and beyond
- Bring our community together through shared stories, events and campaigns
- Celebrate the people, culture and moments that define our community
- Support organisations doing vital work across Jewish Britain
You can make a one-off donation or become a regular supporter. Every contribution helps keep our journalism free, independent and accessible to all.
If everyone who values Jewish News gave a small amount, it would make a real difference to our future.
