Israel Envoy: Let's Enhance Ties With 'Yellow Race

[Middle East News Service Comment: What kind of comment is necessary for this kind of utterances? What kind of ambassador in Canberra is not aware of Australia’s multiculturalism? As both an Israeli and an Australian I am too disgusted to continue. The readers talkback comment in Israel reflect my sentiments. –Sol Salbe.]

Last update - 07:56 13/10/2006
Israel envoy to Australia: Let's enhance ties with 'yellow race'
By Charlotte Halle, Haaretz Correspondent

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Israeli Ambassador to Australia Naftali Tamir said this week that Israel and Australia are white sisters in Asia and should work together to improve ties with "the yellow race."

"Israel and Australia are like sisters in Asia," Tamir said in an interview with Haaretz during a visit to Israel this week. "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. We are on the western side of Asia and they are on the south-eastern side."

"Israel has a past and present in Europe, but no future. Israel is a part of Asia," he added.

Tamir said that due to what he characterized as the two countries' racial similarities, Israel and Australia should work together to enhance ties with other Asian countries.

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"Israel has not fully acknowledged the value of working together with Australia in Asia," Tamir said. "It's a way for us to cooperate with and enhance our position in the countries neighboring Australia."

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New Zealand, which currently conducts its diplomatic contacts with Israel from its embassy in Turkey, has been frequently critical of Israel in recent years, although some commentators note this was slightly moderated during the recent war in Lebanon.

[The independent Middle East News Service concentrates on providing alternative information chiefly from Israeli sources. It is sponsored by the Australian Jewish Democratic Society. The views expressed here are not necessarily those of the AJDS. These are expressed in its own statements]

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