Turkey has asked Israel to provide more protection for its embassy in Tel Aviv, Turkish media reported Wednesday, a day after a palestinian stormed the embassy, threatening to take hostages and demanding asylum.
Ankara was surprised how easy it was for the man to get into the premises, a foreign ministry official was quoted as saying.
The man, identified as Nadim Injaz from the West Bank town of Ramallah, threatened staff with a toy gun and knife in a bid to obtain political asylum, before he was overpowered by embassy security personnel. The 32-year-old was lightly injured in the incident.
Local media reported that Injaz had taken two hostages at the Turkish embassy and had threatened "to kill any Jews" who entered.
Israel Police officials said Injaz was recently released from prison after serving time for an attack on the British embassy four years ago. Israel Radio has reported that the man was a former Israeli collaborator who had a history of mental health problems.
A Tel Aviv court extended Injaz’s remand on Wednesday. During the hearing, Injaz said that he is not "a crazy man" and not "stupid."
He claimed that he had lost contact with his family after they "saved Jews," which resulted in them being outcast from their community.
"We saved Jews and now no one will speak with us," Injaz said.
The Israeli Courts Administration said Wednesday the Tel Aviv court approved holding Injaz in jail for a week to allow police to investigate.
Under Israeli practice, a suspect can be held in jail while police look into his case, and charges are filed afterward if warranted.
Addressing the judge at the hearing, Injaz said, "If the state doesn’t want to take care of me, allow me to leave Israel and continue my life in another country."
Injaz’s attorney, Avital Horef, requested that Injaz remain under arrest, claiming that if he returned to his home, he would be "killed in the city’s square."