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Israel ‘unhappy’ with China’s ‘not as strong as expected’ response to Iranian attack
- Yuval Waks, deputy head of the mission to Beijing, said the country had been ‘hoping for stronger condemnation’ from the Chinese foreign ministry
- Beijing reacted to the attack by ‘expressing deep’ concern and repeating its call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza
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Sylvie Zhuangin Beijing
Israel has said it was disappointed with China’s response to Iran’s missile and drone attack on Saturday.
“We were hoping for stronger condemnation and clear acknowledgment of Israel’s right to defend itself,” said Yuval Waks, the deputy chief of the Israeli mission in China told a press briefing on Monday when asked what response the embassy had hoped for.
03:47
World leaders call for de-escalation after Iran launches air attack on Israel
World leaders call for de-escalation after Iran launches air attack on Israel
“Unfortunately, we did not see that, which is why we were unhappy with the statement [from the Chinese foreign ministry],” said Waks.
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On Sunday the ministry expressed “deep concern” about the risk of the conflict escalating and called for the immediate implementation of a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The statement, which Israel said was “not as strong as expected”, also urged unnamed “influential countries” to play a constructive role.
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Saturday’s attack, which follows the recent deadly attack on Iran’s embassy compound in Syria, was the Islamic Republic’s first direct assault on Israeli territory and has heightened concerns about a wider regional conflict.
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