Israel Protests Uruguay Deputy Foreign Minister’s Remarks on Netanyahu and Gaza

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, remarks made by Rooa Sookasi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Uruguay, about the potential arrest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he enter the country, alongside her critical stance on Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip following the October 2023 war, have created a challenge for President Luis Lacalle Pou’s administration. Although Sookasi’s comments on an internet program did not exceed official government policy, they were interpreted as aligning with the political base of the Broad Front coalition. This marks the second instance where her positions have diverged from those of the Presidency, causing dissatisfaction among senior government officials. The Israeli embassy, currently headed by Acting Ambassador Liat Nedav, issued the expected reaction. The Israeli embassy conveyed its objection verbally and in a face-to-face meeting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, managed by Federico Mateos, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under Mario Lubetkin. According to informed sources, the complaint was not in writing but was raised through customary diplomatic channels to ensure that the positions and differing viewpoints of the parties were heard by Uruguayan government officials. This action has been characterized by government observers as a mandatory diplomatic response to express disagreement. Based on information received from the Israeli diplomatic mission in Montevideo, the embassy conveyed its concerns and considerations regarding the Deputy Minister’s remarks through appropriate official diplomatic channels. They described the dialogue as constructive, professional, and transparent, emphasizing the continuation of regular cooperation and ongoing exchanges with responsible officials in the Uruguayan government. This approach indicates that despite this verbal tension, working relations between the two sides continue at various administrative levels. Within the Uruguayan government, senior officials have not given significant weight to the dimensions of this event due to the mild tone and informal structure of the grievance. Part of this indifference stems from the fact that the protest was not formally recorded in writing, reflecting both parties’ desire to manage the tension. Analysts believe that Uruguayan presidential palace officials prefer to close this matter without further controversy, although Sookasi’s behavior has once again drawn attention to the level of coordination among cabinet members in adopting sensitive international positions.