New Delhi: Terming as a "regrettable
error" bracketing of India with other violence-hit countries
at the UN by it, Israel on Wednesday said they were taking up the
issue to make sure that misunderstanding caused by it will be
removed.
Clarifying the remarks made by Israeli Foreign Minister
Avigdor Lieberman who compared the incidents in India and some
other countries with that of recent attack on an aid flotilla
killing nine pro-Palestinian, Israeli Ambassador to India Mark
Sofer told reporters that "it was a regrettable error."
"Of course, Israel doesn`t see India in a same light as it
sees its enemies. India is a close friend for whom we have
greatest of respect," Sofer said while noting that his country
"listens to everything" India has to say on the Middle-East.
In an unusual step, Israel, which is facing global
criticism for attacking an aid flotilla, has said violent
incidents in countries like India and Pakistan in the past one
month which claimed 500 lives have been "ignored" while it is
being condemned for its "unmistakably defensive actions".
Lieberman "reminded" the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
that in the past month alone 500 people were killed in various
incidents in Thailand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and India.
Sofer said already the name of India has been removed from
the speech of his Foreign Minister and "we are taking this up
to make sure that any misunderstanding risen out of this error
of this nature will no longer be there", indicating that his
country would tender apology for it.
He also said "Israel stands hook, line and sinker behind
India in its struggle in South Asia."
The Israeli envoy also tried to counter the charges by
countries like Iran and Sudan made after the recent incident
and presented a minute-long video which showed that Israeli
officers gave a warning to the flotilla which was trying to
enter the blocked area.
It also showed Israeli paratroopers jumping onto the
international Gaza aid flotilla.
He said the soldiers got tough resistance of the armed
personnel on one of the boats and some soldiers were beaten
and thrown into the sea. He alleged that those persons were
Criticising Iran strongly, Sofer said that is the country
which killed its people when they were protesting against
government after elections. "Where was the UN`s then? Why was
it silent?......Every single thing we do at UN seems wrong,"
he said.
In an emergency session yesterday,?the UN Security Council
called for an investigation into Israel`s deadly commando raid
on ships taking humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip on Monday,
condemning the act that resulted in the loss of at least nine
lives.
PTI
