Published: 9 April 2018
Last updated: 4 March 2024
Amid controversy, Honduran president backs out of Independence Day event (Times of Israel)
Foreign Ministry indicates decision won't damage friendship between the two countries; invitation to Hernandez was criticised due to his country's human rights record
Former Israeli diplomats come out against Honduran president (Ynet)
Juan Orlando Hernández will be the first foreign head of state in Israel's 70-year history chosen to light a torch at the Independence Day ceremony—a decision former Israeli diplomats are claiming was made to “facilitate the participation of the prime minister in the ceremony”
'An outrageous decision': Controversy burns over Honduran strongman president lighting Israel Independence Day Torch (Haaretz)
Showcasing the most bitter of Israeli political spats, the possibility of Netanyahu delivering an Independence Day speech has caused rifts in politics at home and abroad
Ex-Shin Bet chief calls for Independence Day boycott of Netanyahu (i24News)
Israeli parliament speaker Yuli Edelstein has also threatened to boycott the ceremony if Netanyahu attends
Photo: Netanyahu meets with Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez in Jerusalem in 2015 (Kobi Gideon/GPO/Flash90)
