Sunday, August 31, 2003
Via LGF:
France's new man in Israel says Sharon is a "lout": report
The ambassador, Gerard Araud -- who is due to take up his post in September -- immediately denied the accusations, according to a brief statement released by the French foreign ministry on Sunday.
A correspondent for Yediot Aharonot, Boaz Bissmuth, said he had overhead a conversation between Araud and two other veteran diplomats in the gardens of the French foreign ministry in Paris.
The journalist said he then introduced himself to the incoming ambassador, who said: "You don't intend to write that," explaining that his comments were made during a private party and thus not in the public domain.
However, Bissmuth wrote he believed that the comments "were sufficiently serious" to warrant their publication.
In a statement, French foreign ministry spokesman Herve 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."
Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnant told public radio that Israel should not sign Araud's letter of accreditation if the French diplomat had indeed used the words ascribed to him.
"But we must verify what he said," the minister added.
You really must admire the French. Such refined diplomacy. Mr. Powell and State, are you listening? Couldn't the guy just have done like all the other diplomats do, and gotten caught in a prostitution scandal, or taking advantage of his diplomatic status and not paying his parking violations? That would have been much simpler and less embarrassing for the envoy of a great nation (snort).
I say let him stay. It seems somewhat refreshing to be dealing with a situation where everyone knows where each other stands.
Update: The Telegraph comments on the incident.
You've got a point about letting him stay. I jut posted this very late to the table because I was out having fun yesterday (it is a holiday!). But the more people who give it prominence the better.
Isn't it funny? In blogosphere terms a story is already old after 24 hours. I wouldn't feel badly about posting it whenever...after all, a blog is about you, and if it's still interesting to YOU...
Anyway, about the ambassador...I'm being somewhat facetious of course, I doubt they could let him stay, and I doubt the French could allow such a damaged person to stay and represent them. I'm sure stranger things have happened, though...