Mon., July 25, 2005 Tamuz 18, 5765
Sharon slams London mayor's 'ignorance' on Hamas and Likud
By Haaretz Service
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has criticized London Mayor Ken Livingstone for "ignorance" in having declared that members of the Likud and Hamas were "two sides of the same coin."
Livingstone enraged Israelis last week by defending the use of suicide bombers in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and charging that Israel had indiscriminately slaughtered Palestinians in acts that "border on crimes against humanity."
Speaking to Sky News in an interview, Livingstone also said that he does not distinguish between members of Likud and Hamas, branding them "two sides of the same coin."
"I think it is the Israelis who are leading the stubborn line," said Livingstone. "The Likud and Hamas members are two sides of the same coin. They need each other in order to attract support."
"Each side emphasizes the extremism of the other in order to attract sympathy," Livingstone said.
Sharon, speaking to party activists in the northern city of Afula Sunday night, took Livingstone to task for the mayor's depiction of the Likud.
"Hamas is a murderous terrorist organization, which has murdered and wounded of thousands of Israelis," Sharon said in remarks broadcast Monday on Israel Radio.
"The comparison drawn by the mayor of London was grave and inappropriate," Sharon said. "It indicates ignorance and a basic misunderstanding of reality."
Livingstone's comments came less than two weeks since the first wave of London bombings. More than 50 people died in four London blasts on underground trains and a bus. The bombings were believed to have been carried out by suicide terrorists.
"Given that the Palestinians don't have jet planes, don't have tanks, they only have their bodies to use as weapons," Livingstone told Sky News in an interview.
"In an unfair balance, that's what people use," said Livingstone, who has often been strongly critical of Israel in the past.
haaretz.com
WHEW.... Ariel Sharon merely "slammed" London Mayor Livingstone --at least, he didn't bomb him... yet. Clue:
Message 21522399
Perhaps a SECOND bombing strike on London might be necessary to drive Sharon's point home????? |
