The Latest: Palestinians recall 4 European ambassadors

JERUSALEM — The Latest on developments related to Israel-Palestinian conflict (all times local):

2:25 p.m.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry has recalled its ambassadors to four European countries to protest their participation in a party celebrating the opening of the new U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

The ministry said Wednesday that its ambassadors to Romania, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Austria were being called home for consultations.

The Palestinians, who seek Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem as their capital, strongly objected to the move of the U.S. Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The European Union objected to the embassy move. But the four European countries criticized by the Palestinians broke with EU policy to attend the celebration.

The Palestinians said they consider the participation a “grave violation of international law.”

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1:55 p.m.

A senior Sunni cleric in Lebanon has called on all Muslims to wage jihad, or holy war, in support of the Palestinians after the U.S. decision to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem.

Mohammed Rashid Kabbani, the former top Sunni religious authority, or mufti, in Lebanon, also said it is not sanctioned religiously for the Palestinians or any Arab or Muslim country to “surrender, reconcile or make peace deals or give up any inch” of historic Palestine.

Kabbani, who still has clout in the community, also said it is not acceptable for them to “recognize so-called Israel.”

Kabbani’s comments appear to be a jab at U.S. plans for a peace deal. They are reportedly supported by Saudi Arabia, which has used its control of holy sites in Mecca and Medina to brand itself the protector of Islam around the world, and which has special clout among Sunnis.

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1:10 p.m.

State media reports that Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani has condemned the killing of Palestinians by Israel, saying “Palestinians are fighting for their homeland.”

Rouhani, according to a report from state TV’s news website, also said Iran will always support Palestinians’ rights.

He said: “We will always stand against aggressors and oppressors and believe that the ultimate victory belongs to the oppressed and Palestinians.”

Also on Wednesday, hundreds of hard-line Iranian students gathered in front of the former U.S. embassy to show their anger over the deaths of nearly 60 Palestinians along the Gaza border on Monday.

They also condemned the United States for its support of Israel and burned flags of both countries, shouting “Death to America” and “Death to Israel.”

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12:30 p.m.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry says it has summoned a top Turkish diplomat to be reprimanded for his country’s “harsh” treatment of Israel’s ambassador to Turkey.

The ministry says Umut Deniz, the Turkish charge d’affaires in Tel Aviv, was being summoned Wednesday because of the “inappropriate treatment” of Israeli ambassador Eitan Naeh, who was expelled from Ankara following the deadly violence in Gaza.

The ministry says Naeh was subjected to a severe security screening during his departure from the airport in Istanbul that was intentionally captured by Turkish media.

Turkey has also asked Israel’s consul general in Istanbul to leave as part of the expanding diplomatic spat between the countries.

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11:40 a.m.

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry says the country has asked Israel’s consul general in Istanbul to temporarily leave amid an expanding diplomatic spat.

The ministry said Wednesday that Yosef Levi-Sfari was asked to leave “for some time.”

Turkey on Tuesday temporarily expelled Israel’s ambassador in Ankara after he was called into the ministry, where Turkey relayed its condemnation of Israel’s use of deadly force on Gaza protesters

Nearly 60 people were killed and 2,700 were wounded in a protest on the Gaza border Monday.

Ambassador Eitan Na’eh was seen in Istanbul’s main international airport en route to Tel Aviv.

Israel fired back Tuesday and asked the Turkish Consul General in Jerusalem to also temporarily leave. Turkey, strongly critical of the U.S. decision to relocate its embassy to Jerusalem, had already recalled for consultations its ambassadors to Tel Aviv and Washington.

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11:05 a.m.

Guatemala has opened its new embassy in Jerusalem, becoming the second country to do so after the United States.

Guatemalan President Jimmy Morales dedicated the embassy Wednesday just two days after a high-powered American delegation also marked the transfer of its embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says it’s fitting since Guatemala also followed the U.S. to be the second country to recognize Israel 70 years ago.

“You were always among the first,” he said. “We remember our friends and Guatemala is our friend, then and now.”

President Trump announced his decision on Jerusalem in December, triggering a joyous reaction from Netanyahu’s government. The move infuriated the Palestinians, who claim Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem as their capital.

Paraguay says it will also relocate its embassy.

Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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