Czech diplomat apologises for Israeli flag image

The ambassador of the Czech Republic to Kuwait is apologizing over an image posted online of him draped in the Israeli flag, amid anger in the small, oil-rich nation over the death of Palestinians.

Martin Dvorak wrote an open letter posted on the embassy's Twitter account on Monday after Kuwaitis posted angry messages to his Instagram account.

Dvorak wrote that his post inspired "understandable outrage and indignation among many people with regards to the current, deeply dramatic situation in the Gaza Strip." He added: "It was absolutely not my intention to express any manner of disrespect towards the innocent Palestinian victims and casualties whose loss we are currently witnessing." The Kuwaiti Foreign Ministry summoned Dvorak on Monday over the post to express "its categorical rejection and strong disapproval." While some Gulf Arab nations now recognize Israel, Kuwait has not done so in a decades-long support of the Palestinians' efforts to have an independent state.

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