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8 Adar II 5763 - March 12, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Ministry:Israeli war talk sparks antisemitism in US
by Yated Ne'eman Staff

The Foreign Ministry is receiving reports from the US that the war predictions emanating from Israeli leaders are being sharply criticized by the US media, which accuse them of trying to goad the administration into war.

The ministry is also receiving reports of mounting antisemitism by elements claiming that the White House is being controlled by Jews.

Until now, however, Israeli officials have ignored warnings from US and Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, to be cautious and stop predicting when the war will begin.

The United States Embassy said that Israel would receive warning of the upcoming American strike on Iraq, contrary to reports in the Israeli media stating otherwise, Israel Radio reported.

Reports of American anger about Israeli "blabbering" over the prospective US invasion of Iraq came from the consulate- general in New York, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Monday.

An official warned that these declarations help those in the US who claim America is fighting Israel's war and create the impression that Israel is impatient to see the US launch its attack.

From the beginning, Israel maintained it had nothing to do with the dispute between the US and Iraq, "but these senior officials are creating the impression that Israel is involved in the crisis, and there is no doubt a US citizen can explode with anger when he hears such things."

The news that excessive talk about the war has angered the US and stoked antisemitism is worrying Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

On Monday, he declared that only three officials may speak in public about the war: Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, Shalom, and himself. Shalom said emissaries abroad have been instructed not to talk with the media about Iraq.

Sharon on Monday praised US President George W. Bush and the US's determination to wage war against Iraq.

A senior IDF officer said that war with Iraq is likely to have a restraining effect on the major players in the north -- Iran, Syria and Hizbullah -- since all three want to avoid becoming America's next target. "The last speech by Hizbullah Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah consisted entirely of apologies and excuses for why [Hizbullah] isn't attacking Israel now," he said.

 

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