Visits by Iraqi officials to the Zionist entity announced by Tel Aviv stirred controversy Monday in Iraq, where the deputy parliamentary speaker demanded a probe to identify those who crossed a red line.

Israeli foreign ministry said on Twitter on Sunday that three Iraqi delegations visited the Zionist entity in 2018, and details were also later released by media.

First deputy speaker of parliament Hassan Karim al-Kaabi called in a statement for “an investigation… to identify those who went to the occupied territory, particularly if they are lawmakers”.

“To go to the occupied territory is a red line and an extremely sensitive issue for all Muslims”, the statement said.

According to the Israeli ministry, 15 Iraqi visitors were “influential Shiite and Sunni personalities in the country”, but did not give names.

The ministry said the Iraqi travelers had visited “Israeli officials and universities”, as well as the Holocaust memorial in Al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Private Israeli TV station Hadashot, which described the Iraqis as “local leaders”, said Sunday that they had stressed they were not taking part in an official visit and that secrecy was paramount.

Source: AFP