site.bta"Bulgaria Concerned by Rise of Jordan-Israel Tensions after Israeli Finance Minister's Statement," Foreign Ministry Says

"Bulgaria is concerned about the escalation of tensions between Jordan and Israel following the statements of [Israeli Finance] Minister [Bezalel] Smotrich at an event in Paris," the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry tweeted on Thursday.

"We call for strict adherence to international norms and condemn any provocations that could deteriorate the already fragile situation on the ground," the Ministry said.

Reuters reported on March 20 that Smotrich "angered neighbouring Jordan for speaking at a podium covered in what appeared to be a variation of the Israeli flag that showed an Israeli state with expanded boundaries that included the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and Jordan."

The Israeli Finance Minister reportedly said in a speech he gave at a conference in France on March 19: "Is there a Palestinian history or culture? There is none. There is no such thing as a Palestinian people."