Israel slams group for criticising Indian rescue

The Israel Government on Tuesday slammed an Israeli rescue group for alleging that Indian commandos may have inadvertently killed...

The Israel Government on Tuesday slammed an Israeli rescue group for alleging that Indian commandos may have inadvertently killed one or more Jewish hostages during the Nariman House operation, saying the “irresponsible” comments could cause considerable damage to bilateral ties.

“They are causing all kinds of problems,” a senior Foreign Ministry official said about the six-member team of the Zaka voluntary group that flew on Thursday on its own volition to Mumbai for rescue operation after the deadly terror strikes.

“They are selling all kinds of stories to journalists looking for stories, and taking credit for things they didn’t do,” the official told The Jerusalem Post.

The head of the Zaka team, Haim Weingarten, had in a telephonic interview to the Post alleged that one or more hostages at Nariman House may have been killed by the elite NSG commandos.

Israel has been trying to soften criticisms by anti-terror experts in the media of the Indian handling of the hostage crisis in Mumbai during which six Jewish people were killed.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yossi Levy told PTI that the Indian commandos did the “utmost possible” and cooperation at the highest level existed between the two sides. Prime Minister Ehud Olmert on Monday called upon his Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh and appreciated the “bold and daring” response in dealing with the siege.