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Israeli ambassador to Belarus Yosef Shagal, who was born in Baku, in recent years, has been involved in several international scandals, Belarus news portal Khartia’97 reports. In particular, he released pro-Azerbaijan statements on behalf of Israel, whereas the country takes a neutral position in the Nagorno Karabakh issue.

It is noted in the article that Yosef Shagal was born in Baku, where he lived until 1990. He was a deputy editor of the State Committee for Television and Radio Broadcasting of Azerbaijan SSR. In 2011 Shagal received an order “Dostlug” (Friendship), the highest award of Azerbaijan from the hands of Azerbaijani president.

“Azerbaijan for many times has been accused of human rights violations and electoral fraud. There are several dozens of political prisoners in the country, while Azerbaijan enjoys privileged relations with Israel. The latter is building a chain of his allies around its potential enemy, Iran,” the article reads.

According to the article, the visit of Yosef Shagal to Baku in 2006 ended with a big scandal. Several statements of Shagal caught the attention of not only Israel and Azerbaijan but also Armenia and Iran. The statements of Shagal even began to be exploited in Tehran.

“Israel supports Azerbaijan’s reasonable position in Nagorno Karabakh conflict,” he said. Shagal said this not as an individual but on behalf of the whole Knesset.

“Israel in Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict takes neutral position. The visit of Tzipi Livni, Israeli Minister of Foreign Affairs to Baku was officially postponed because of these statements,” the article reads.

The portal also notes that when Shagal was a Deputy from 2006 to 2008 and when the deputies of Israeli parliament were discussing the issue of Armenian Genocide, he got so agree that called the Deputy Elkin from Kadima party a “goat”.
According to the portal, the latter had the imprudence to recall that the deceased Deputy from the party “Israel our home” Yuri Stern as well called for recognition of Armenian Genocide. “Maybe you will also recall Chekhov, you goat, how much I’d like to beat you up,” Shagal said in Russian.