Clark criticises Israeli envoy after ‘yellow’ comments
17 October 2006
By DAN EATON
Racially offensive comments about Asian people by the Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand have placed fresh strain on diplomatic relations with Israel.
Prime Minister Helen Clark said yesterday that the remarks attributed to Naftali Tamir including that Asians have “yellow skin and slanted eyes” were “completely unacceptable” and deserved “severe consequences” if verified.
Tamir, who is also ambassador to Australia and is based in Canberra, has reportedly been recalled to Israel where a Foreign Ministry probe is underway.
The incident comes two years after Israeli spies were caught trying to buy false New Zealand passports, resulting in a suspension of diplomatic ties.
The relationship has recovered, with a visit in May by the highest ranking Israeli official in 20 years.
“If the remarks are as reported, of course they are completely unacceptable,” Clark told reporters.
“If they were made by anyone in our public service there would be quite severe consequences.”
Asked if New Zealand would take any action, Clark said: “Obviously, I’d need to take advice on that. The remarks were not made in any context relevant to New Zealand.
“They were made in the context of the relationship with Australia.”
In an interview with the widely circulated Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz last week, Tamir allegedly said Israel and Australia needed to co-operate because they were like sisters in Asia.
“We are in Asia, without the characteristics of Asians. We don’t have yellow skin and slanted eyes. Asia is basically the yellow race.
“Australia and Israel are not we are basically the white race,” he was quoted as saying.
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Ex-Bush Aide: White House Officials Called Evangelicals ‘Ridiculous’
New Book, ‘Tempting Faith’ Accuses Administration Officials of Bashing Evangelical Christians
By JAKE TAPPER and KENDALL EVANS
Oct. 16, 2006 For the White House, the charges coming their way this morning in the new book “Tempting Faith: An Inside Story of Political Seduction” must seem anything but heaven-sent.
The accusations are coming from an unlikely source: David Kuo, former deputy director of the White House Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, which channels federal dollars to religious charities.
Kuo says the office was misused to rally evangelical Christians, the Republican base voters, to get GOP politicians elected. Not only that, Kuo claims Bush officials mocked evangelical leaders behind their backs, alleging that in the office of political guru Karl Rove they were called “the nuts.”
“National Christian leaders received hugs and smiles in person and then were dismissed behind their backs and described as ‘ridiculous’, ‘out of control,’ and just plain ‘goofy,’ ” Kuo writes.
“You name the important Christian leader, and I have heard them mocked by serious people in serious places,” Kuo told “60 Minutes” Sunday night.
That mockery, he added, included the Rev. Pat Robertson being called “insane,” the Rev. Jerry Falwell being called “ridiculous” and comments that Dr. James Dobson of Focus on the Family “had to be controlled.” [More]