French ambassador calls Israel 'paranoid' and Sharon a 'lout' -

The Telegraph - UK ^ | September 1, 2003 | Ohad Gozani in Tel Aviv

[UnklGene]

French ambassador calls Israel 'paranoid' and Sharon 'a lout' By Ohad Gozani in Tel Aviv (Filed: 01/09/2003)

France's new ambassador to Israel caused a diplomatic row with his hosts yesterday after he was reported to have described the Jewish state as "paranoid" and called its prime minister, Ariel Sharon, "a lout".

Limor Livnat, Israel's education minister, said the remarks attributed to Gerard Araud were "very grave". If true, she said, Israel should refuse to accept his letter of accreditation.

The row is reminiscent of comments by Daniel Bernard, the former French ambassador to London. He caused a storm in December 2001 after being heard at a dinner party speaking of "that shitty little country, Israel".

M Araud's comments appear to have been made in a similarly unguarded moment. Boaz Bissmuth, a correspondent for the mass circulation Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot, reported hearing M Araud talk disparagingly about Israel in conversation with two other French diplomats during a recent cocktail party in Paris.

The newspaper said M Araud did not know an Israeli journalist was there. When Mr Bissmuth introduced himself, he said M Araud tried to dissuade him from reporting what he heard because it was a private occasion.

The reporter said he decided to publish them because they reflected a possible bias on the part of an envoy of "a key European Union member state".

According to the Yediot report, M Araud also tried to explain that he meant Israel "has become paranoid because of what it has gone through".

In a statement, the French foreign ministry spokesman, Hervé Ladsous, said: "Gerard Araud denies in the most formal way all of the comments attributed to him by an Israeli journalist with respect to the state of Israel and its prime minister".

• About 13,000 police officers, security personnel and volunteers fanned out across Israel yesterday to protect 1.5 million pupils returning to school after the summer holidays.

Hamas has vowed to avenge the recent killings of four activists in Israeli air strikes. The last incident was on Saturday night when rockets from an Israeli helicopter struck a car carrying two militants.

[UnklGene]

You gotta love to hate the French! Are you 'paranoid' when about 1 billion people have sworn to kill you?

[Ahban]

Paranoid? Frenchie better look that word up. I don't think it means what he thinks it means.

Why doesn't he provide a safe haven in his hometown for all of those terrorists that Israel is treating so unfairly?

[Cindy]

I think the french have a lot more on their minds than Israel. Whereas Israel is very astute in fighting the war on terror; the french are...(fill in the blank).

[Frank_2001]

Frying?;)))

[LoneRangerMassachusetts]

France's new ambassador to Israel caused a diplomatic row with his hosts yesterday after he was reported to have described the Jewish state as "paranoid" and called its prime minister, Ariel Sharon, "a lout".

Limor Livnat, Israel's education minister, said the remarks attributed to Gerard Araud were "very grave". If true, she said, Israel should refuse to accept his letter of accreditation.

Limor. You will know the true meaning of paranoid when you are in your old age home and wondering what the North African Muslim orderly is thinking when he comes to change your bed pan.

[monkeyshine]

Just because you're paranoid it doesn't mean they're not out to get you.

[tessalu]

I think that God is punishing the French, and has turned the heat upon them. Just look at them, for they are dying like flies.

[Cindy]

Frying -- Yes, that word fits.

[Roy Tucker]

Andy Grove, CEO of Intel, who escaped the Holocaust in Europe as an infant (many of his family were not so lucky) wrote a book a few years back called, "Only the Paranoid Survive". So true.

Let's hear it for the sophisticated French, so well-schooled in the art of diplomacy. Quels idiots!

[CalvaryJohn]

Main Entry: am·bas·sa·dor Pronunciation: am-'ba-s&-d&r, &m-, im-, -"dor, -'bas-d&r Function: noun Etymology: Middle English ambassadour, from Middle French ambassadeur, ultimately of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German ambaht service Date: 14th century 1 : an official envoy; especially : a diplomatic agent of the highest rank accredited to a foreign government or sovereign as the resident representative of his own government or sovereign or appointed for a special and often temporary diplomatic assignment 2 a : an authorized representative or messenger b : an unofficial representative ............I don't see the part about insulting people and making your country a laughingstock. Hmmmm.

[Valin]

Gerard Araud

Isn't that French for complete idiot?