Israel drags India into flotilla row, later ‘regrets error’

   Posted: Thu Jun 03 2010, 23:49 hrs

 

Soon after its foreign minister compared the raid on an aid flotilla that left nine pro-Palestine activists dead to violence in India and other countries, Israel on Wednesday said the remarks were a ‘regrettable error’ and that they have been removed from records.
In a clarification to remarks made by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman who had said the international community remained silent as “500 people were killed in various incidents in Thailand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and India”, Israeli Ambassador to India Mark Sofer said here on Wednesday that “it was a regrettable error.”
“Israel doesn’t see India in the same light as it sees its enemies. India is a close friend for whom we have greatest of respect,” Sofer said, clarifying the remarks had been made inadvertently.
In a statement, Lieberman had ‘reminded’ the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon that violent incidents that claimed 500 lives in Thailand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and India in the past month had been ignored while Israel was being condemned for its defensive action.link