<p> After protests from New Delhi, Jerusalem, however, expressed regret for the statement made by the Foreign Minister and claimed that he talked about India by mistake. “We don’t put India in the same basket with countries like Iran and Pakistan,” said Israel’s Ambassador to India, Mark Sofer.<br /><br />Amid global outcry against Israel Defence Force’s raid on MV Mavi Marmara, a ship carrying aid to people in Gaza, on May 30-31 night, Lieberman reminded United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon that 500 people had been killed in various incidents in Thailand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and India last month. “While the international community remained silent and passive and generally ignored the occurrences, Israel is being condemned for unmistakably defensive actions,” a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem quoted Lieberman as saying.<br /><br />Israel claims that only nine people onboard the ship were killed in the raid by its soldiers.<br />India too joined the rest of the world to condemn the “indiscriminate use of force” by Israel on people onboard the vessel carrying supplies to Gaza. New Delhi “deplored tragic loss of life and the reports of killings and injuries” and extended “sympathies to the families of the dead and wounded”. <br /><br />New Delhi is also understood to have reacted strongly and conveyed its displeasure to Jerusalem over Israeli Foreign Minister’s remark.<br /><br />Sources said India’s Ambassador to Israel Navtej Sarna took it up with the authorities in Jerusalem, prompting the latter to retract. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs removed the word India from the Foreign Minister’s statement posted on its official website. <br /><br />“Of course, Israel does not see India in the same light as it sees its enemies. India is a close friend for whom we have greatest of respect,” said Sofer. “Israel stands hoot, line and sinker behind India in its struggle (against terrorism) in South Asia,” he added.<br /><br />Sofer said that Israel had been justified under international law in acting against the flotilla. “A state of armed conflict exists between Israel and the Hamas regime,” he said.</p>
<p> After protests from New Delhi, Jerusalem, however, expressed regret for the statement made by the Foreign Minister and claimed that he talked about India by mistake. “We don’t put India in the same basket with countries like Iran and Pakistan,” said Israel’s Ambassador to India, Mark Sofer.<br /><br />Amid global outcry against Israel Defence Force’s raid on MV Mavi Marmara, a ship carrying aid to people in Gaza, on May 30-31 night, Lieberman reminded United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki Moon that 500 people had been killed in various incidents in Thailand, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran and India last month. “While the international community remained silent and passive and generally ignored the occurrences, Israel is being condemned for unmistakably defensive actions,” a statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Jerusalem quoted Lieberman as saying.<br /><br />Israel claims that only nine people onboard the ship were killed in the raid by its soldiers.<br />India too joined the rest of the world to condemn the “indiscriminate use of force” by Israel on people onboard the vessel carrying supplies to Gaza. New Delhi “deplored tragic loss of life and the reports of killings and injuries” and extended “sympathies to the families of the dead and wounded”. <br /><br />New Delhi is also understood to have reacted strongly and conveyed its displeasure to Jerusalem over Israeli Foreign Minister’s remark.<br /><br />Sources said India’s Ambassador to Israel Navtej Sarna took it up with the authorities in Jerusalem, prompting the latter to retract. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs removed the word India from the Foreign Minister’s statement posted on its official website. <br /><br />“Of course, Israel does not see India in the same light as it sees its enemies. India is a close friend for whom we have greatest of respect,” said Sofer. “Israel stands hoot, line and sinker behind India in its struggle (against terrorism) in South Asia,” he added.<br /><br />Sofer said that Israel had been justified under international law in acting against the flotilla. “A state of armed conflict exists between Israel and the Hamas regime,” he said.</p>
