Israeli PM Netanyahu wishes Muslims ‘Ramadan Kareem’

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wished Muslim citizens “mutual respect and peace” for Ramadan.

As the month-long celebration of fasting and prayer began, Mr Netanyahu took to social media to address the Muslim community.

“I wish #Ramadan Kareem to Israel's Muslim citizens and Muslims around the world, hoping for much needed brotherhood, mutual respect & peace,” he wrote on Twitter.

"Ramadan Kareem" means "have a generous Ramadan".

Mr Netanyahu also tweeted greetings in Arabic.

During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are expected to fast and avoid drinking water or taking medicine during daylight hours, to celebrate the first revelation of the Quran to Muhammad.

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar.

The Foreign Ministry shows there are nearly 1.5 million Muslims in Israel, equivalent to 16.9 per cent of the population.

Major General Yoav Mordechai, of the Israeli defence agency COGAT, said goodwill gestures from the Israeli government at the start of Ramadan include access for 100 Gaza residents to attend prayers at a mosque in Jerusalem every Friday in the month, and extended West Bank crossing times.

According to the same department, Israel was due to issue up to 200,000 permits for those visiting the country during the month.

The nation reached a deal with Palestinian authorities and the Red Cross to allow prisoners a second family visit per month, ending the hunger strike of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.

According to Israel’s prison service, more than 1,500 prisoners went on hunger strike and 834 of them ended their fast at the weekend.

Mr Netanyahu also met with US President Donald Trump this month after Mr Trump attempted to woo Muslim leaders, negotiating arms deals and telling them he was not in Riyadh “to lecture”.

Mr Trump spoke tough words about the “reckless pursuit of conflict and terror” by Iran, which would appease Israel, but did not mention Saudi Arabia’s human rights violations in Yemen.

Mr Trump said in Israel that he hoped there would be peace with Palestine, but he did not say “two-state solution” as was previous custom, or mention the controversial creation of new Jewish settlements on the West Bank.