French envoy calls Sharon a lout

IRIB News ^ | Aug 31, 2003 | Al Qods

[yonif]

Al Qods, Aug 31 - France's newly-appointed ambassador to Israel described Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a "lout" and said the Jewish state was "paranoid" during a recent foreign office cocktail party in Paris, the Yediot Aharonot reported Sund ay.

One of the daily's correspondents, Boaz Bissmuth, said he had overhead a conversation between Gerard Araud, who is due to take up his post in September, and two other veteran diplomats in the gardens of the Quai D'orsay.

The correspondent said he then introduced himself to the incoming ambassador, who told him: "You don't intend to write that," explaining that his comments were made in the course of a private party.

However, the correspondent wrote that he believed that the comments "were sufficiently serious" to warrant their publication.

Education Minister Limor Livnant told public radio that Israel should not sign the diplomat's letter of accredition if he had used the words ascribed to him.

"But we must verify what he said," the minister added.

The French charge d'affaires in Tel Aviv, Michel Miraillet, said that "We do not have any comment on this matter."

[yonif]

Ping.

[Mr. Mojo]

So, the Frogs want to get in a name-calling war? I suspect they'd fare better in that than in an actual war, but not by much.

[Johnbalaya]

ah, the language of diplomacy

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

I guess the French were only paranoid in 1940........the Nazi threat was way overblown!

[Cobra64]

The French are the "louts." Has anyone heard, read, or said ANYTHING positive about the French? Their economy is in the tank. They won't work more than 35 hours a week. The government owns practically everything so therefore not much works in that stinking country. 10 percent of their population are towel head terrorists. And they continue name-calling? Un-friggin-believable! (Now I feel better).

[Ronly Bonly Jones]

he must have been upset that they were sending him to that "$#!++^ little country." </ s a r c a s m >

[SandRat]

France's newly-appointed ambassador to Israel described Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a "lout

and deserves a "SABOT" in his "DERRIERE" as his diplomatic papers are torn to sheds, literally thrown back in his face, and he's sent packing home to PARIS in abject shame.

[dagnabbit]

Dubious source - Though I don't doubt French hatred of Israel.

[yonif]

This was also reported in the Israeli media.

[Cicero]

Maybe it's an unconfirmed source, but it's only too probable. It fits into the pattern of recent French governmental behavior very neatly.

[KentTrappedInLiberalSeattle]

France's newly-appointed ambassador to Israel described Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon as a "lout" and said the Jewish state was "paranoid" during a recent foreign office cocktail party in Paris

Oh, go bury your grandmother. :)