A political row has erupted after Israel has failed to accept New Zealand’s ambassador.
Jonathan Curr was appointed ambassador for both Israel and Palestine in July this year, and is based in Turkey.
Ambassadors represent their home country while working and living in the country to which they’ve been appointed. New Zealand has 27 ambassadors around the world.
Israel will not accept Curr because he is also the ambassador to Palestinian at the same time. New Zealand has had a joint amabassador to Israel and Palestine since 2008.
The move shows how tense relations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority are.
New Zealand’s Foreign Minister Murray McCully was told a few days ago that Mr Curr had been blocked. He said New Zealand is looking at what arrangements can be made to ensure that it has representation for Israel and the Palestinian Authority.
In a statement, the Israeli embassy to New Zealand said the two nations have good relations, but for many years Israel has not allowed ambassadors to be accredited to it and the Palestinian Authority as well.
