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Mexico slams Israeli PM's US-Mexico wall tweet

Xinhua, January 31, 2017 Adjust font size:

Mexico "deeply rejects" Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's applause for the erection of a border wall between the United States and Mexico, Foreign Affairs Minister Luis Videgaray said on Monday.

Mexico hopes that Israel's government reconsiders its position regarding the controversial wall and Netanyahu should apologize, Videgaray said in an interview with a morning news program aired by the Televisa TV network.

"Mexico is a close friend of Israel's" and "the prime minister's position is absolutely irresponsible," Videgaray added.

Over the weekend, Netanyahu praised U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to erect a wall along the border to keep out illegal migrants and drug traffickers.

"President Trump is right. I built a wall along Israel's southern border. It stopped all illegal immigration. Great success. Great idea," Netanyahu posted on Twitter Saturday.

Netanyahu's words stunned Mexico, and led prominent Mexicans of Jewish descent to distance themselves from the Israeli leader's stance.

Later, Emmanuel Nahshon, Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman, tried to smooth over ruffled feathers.

The "Israeli PM referred to our specific security experience which we are willing to share. We do not express a position on U.S.-Mexico relations," he said. Endi