The British Guardian daily reported that the Israeli government had stepped into the row over the French ambassador to London, Daniel Bernard, who allegedly have spoken about "that shitty little country Israel".
Raanan Gissin, spokesman for the Israeli prime minister, Ariel Sharon, conveyed if Bernard had made this comment, he should resign or “the Israeli government would assume the French government condoned that view.” Additionally, Labour MPs in Britain who are members of the Friends of Israel group have called for the French envoy to submit his resignation or be sacked.
According to the Guardian, a spokesman for the French embassy, Yves Charpentier, commented no formal protests had been received by the embassy. In its initial reaction on Tuesday, the French embassy was cautious not to refute that Bernard had made this remark, insisting instead that it had been distorted and that he had been referring to “Israel's size geographically.”
On Wednesday, Charpentier stated Bernard could not remember saying it. Later, the spokesman described Bernard as "cross" and denied categorically that he made the remark: "He did not use those words." He said the French ambassador “saw no need to apologise.”
Ambassador Bernard is alleged to have made the remark at a dinner party last Friday hosted by Conrad Black, owner of the another British newspaper, Daily Telegraph. The Israeli prime minister's office was outspoken. Its spokesman Gissin said: "If he did say that, it is pure anti-semitism. One would not expect that from a representative of the French government. There is no doubt that if such a statement was made, it requires a strong condemnation." (Albawaba.com)
© 2001 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
