World news-roundup: Hamas congratulates Erdogan on election win
A snapshop of stories from around the Jewish world, this week including from Bulgaria, Spain, Russia and Turkey
Country: Bulgaria
Lawmakers in Sofia have agreed to open an honourary consulate in Jerusalem, two weeks after Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The consulate is a diplomatic step short of opening an embassy and a nod to the two countries’ hi-tech cooperation.
Country: Spain
A spokesman for the Israeli embassy in Madrid has likened a Spanish state’s decision to boycott Israeli goods to the expulsion or conversion of Jews during the Inquisition 500 years ago. Last month the state of Navarre voted to support the BDS movement, while last week Pamplona voted for a ‘military embargo’.
Country: Russia
World Cup football fans draped in Israeli flags were filmed being chased around Moscow’s Red Square by fans from other countries, including Tunisia. Another fan who waved the Israeli flag during a match between Morocco and Portugal had it snatched from him. Israel did not qualify for the World Cup.
Country: Turkey
Hamas has congratulated Turkey’s Islamist President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election on Sunday. Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani also congratulated him on the ballot-box victory. Turkey and Qatar are the two most prominent supporters of the Gaza-based party among Muslim countries.
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