Olmert : Europe should stop preaching
Prime minister of Israel, Ehud Olmert has criticized Europe for “preaching” to Israel about the number of civilian casualties caused by it’s bombing of Lebanon. Olmert asks where Europe gets the right to preach from in an interview with the German Welt am Sonntag. He says that Europe has killed ten thousand civilians in it’s bombing of Kosovo. According to a study by Human Rights Watch in 2000, mister Olmert is incorrect, as it estimates 500 civilians died by NATO bombings in 1999. Olmert praised Washington’s support.
The Israeli leader also indicated that he would not object to German soldiers taking part in any peace-keeping force in southern Lebanon - an issue which for historical reasons is causing great debate in Germany.
“I have said to chancellor Merkel that we would not have any problem with that,” said Mr Olmert.
“If such a request is necessary, then I will talk to Angela Merkel,” he added referring to the fact that the chancellor would wait for a specific request from Israel before agreeing to commit German soldiers.
In contrast to his criticism of the European stance towards the conflict, Mr Olmert was full of praise for Washington.
“They don’t criticise us,” he said. “I wish other countries had the courage of president George W. Bush to tell the truth.”
Mr Olmert said Israel had not underestimated Hezbollah which has been raining down rockets on Israeli cities.
“We know that they have only shot 3000 rockets and they own 15,000. The question is rather: if Hezbollah had known what the consequences of their attacks were going to be; would they still have done it? I think not.
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Administrator @ August 7, 2006