Israel drags India into flotilla row,later regrets error

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...

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 doesnt 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.

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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.

The Israeli Ambassador said the reference to India in the statement has now been removed. The reference to India in the statement on the discussion between Foreign Minister Liberman and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has been removed from the official MFA internet site. Israel greatly values the friendship and strength of relations with India, an official statement issued by the Israeli Embassy said.

Meanwhile,an Indian-origin man from Leicestershire is among 40 British citizens caught in the Israeli raid on the Gaza-bound aid ships and his family is yet to hear from him. Ismail Adam Patel,47,was one of the 40 British citizens taking part in the humanitarian convoy that came under attack by Israeli naval commandos. For the past 48 hours,Patels family have been unable to contact him,but it is understood he is not among the wounded and is being detained in southern Israel.

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