Then there is this:
Rosner’s Domain: Sarkozy’s big mouth is a double-edged sword
Posted by SHMUEL ROSNER
Comments: 19
While Israel is right to be outraged by French President Nicolas Sarkozy’s recent comments (“You need to get rid of this man,” he reportedly said to PM Netanyahu, referring to FM Avigdor Lieberman) – it is worth noting that Sarkozy’s big-mouthing was not always seen in Jerusalem as such nuisance.
In fact, not long ago, I heard Israeli government officials making use of Sarkozy’s no-less outrageous comments, to demonstrate that Israel’s frustrations with US’ President Barack Obama are shared by other world leaders.
It was just 2-3 months ago, when the press reported that the French President bad mouthed a score of world leaders, Obama included:
Sarkozy had delivered some astonishingly unflattering comments about several foreign officials – including American President Barack Obama. During a lunch with a group of French legislators Wednesday, Sarkozy reportedly described Obama as inexperienced, ill-prepared by advisers, and thus far “not always up to standard on decision-making and efficiency.” And those turned out to be relatively kind words. Sarkozy said German Chancellor Angela Merkel had been reluctantly forced by economic realities to copy his own policies for dealing with the recession. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, said the French President, was simply “not very clever.”
This wasn’t the first time in which Israelis were using Sarkozy’s criticism of Obama’s on Iran by way of warning against his “engagement” policy. Even before Obama was elected, Israeli officials were leaking similar reports:
[A]ccording to a senior Israeli government source, the reports reaching Israel indicate that Sarkozy views the Democratic candidate’s stance on Iran as “utterly immature” and comprised of “formulations empty of all content.”
My point:
1. Sarkozy should be condemned for his comments.
2. But don’t get over-excitedly outraged – Sarkozy is Israel’s friend, not an enemy.
3. And we once used to love him for being honest about other things.
4. Lieberman should be pleased: he just joined a very long line of established and respected world leaders offended by the Frenchman (Obama, Merkel, Zapatero).
5. Count the seconds: It will not take long for Israeli opposition speakers to defend Sarkozy’s remarks – arguing that he was actually right to say what he said.
