Croatian president rejects candidacy of new Israeli ambassador

Croatian President Zoran Milanovic refused to approve the new ambassador of Israel to Zagreb because of "the policy pursued by the current Israeli authorities."

"The proposed candidate for the post of ambassador of the State of Israel has not received and will not receive the consent of the President of the Republic Zoran Milanovic," the statement from the president's office said.

Milanovic, an ardent critic of Israel's war in Gaza, said he had previously refrained from public comments on the issue in line with diplomatic practice, but now claims that Israel violated an "unwritten rule" by announcing the ambassador's appointment before receiving consent.

In a statement published in the newspaper The Times of Israel, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is working with its Croatian counterparts on "resolving the issue of the status of the next Israeli ambassador in Zagreb."

Source: Al Jazeera