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Did EU Official Really Blame Hamas for Gaza Violence?
Not really. His words were far gentler than those the media "reported."
Did EU Humanitarian Aid Commissioner Louis Michel place the blame for the violence in Gaza squarely on Hamas, as numerous news reports last week suggested? “EU envoy lays Gaza blame on Hamas,” a BBC headline declared. “EU official: Hamas responsible for Gaza,” ran the headline in the Jerusalem Post. “EU commissioner hits out at Hamas on Gaza tour,” an AFP dispatch pronounced. All the articles quote Louis Michel as assigning “overwhelming responsibility” to Hamas for what he describes as the “abominable” destruction that he viewed in the Gaza strip during a brief visit on Monday, January 26.
The citation appears to have originated with the French wire service, the AFP. A French-language AFP dispatch has Michel speaking of a “responsabilité écrasante” of Hamas, which would indeed correspond to “overwhelming responsibility.” “We must, however, also remember the overwhelming responsibility of Hamas,” Louis Michel is supposed to have said. The dispatch appears, however, to refer to a press conference that the Belgian commissioner held in English, not in his native French. An extract from that press conference can be viewed here as part of a report from the French-language Israeli news channel Guysen-TV. The extract is accompanied by the following “translation” of Louis Michel’s words:
We must, however, also remember the overwhelming responsibility of Hamas. I want to say this here deliberately [à dessein]: Hamas is a terrorist movement and it must be denounced as such.
The original English-language soundtrack is not audible. It is, however, audible here, starting some 34 seconds into the video. What Louis Michel in fact says is this:
We condemn military operations that target the Palestinian people and their property, all such acts are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law.
Asked by the author about the discrepancy, Guysen reporter David Sebban said that it was the result of a “film editing error” [erreur de montage]. He confirmed that the AFP was the source of the French “translation.”
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John Rosenthal’s writings on European politics and transatlantic relations have appeared in English, French, and German in such leading publications as Policy Review, Les Temps Modernes, and Merkur. He holds a PhD in philosophy and he taught political philosophy and classical German philosophy before turning to journalism. More of his work can be found at Transatlantic Intelligencer.
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44 Comments
1. Marc Malone:The French altered something? Seemed kind of clumsy. But then, they’re not used to writing Rightist stuff. Give ‘em time. They’ll get better. Go Froggies. I’m starting to like those guys… maybe.
Feb 4, 2009 - 1:16 am 2. HonestJon:I’m kindasorta amazed and bewildered that a guy from the EUSSR-especially France-said anything derogatory about Hamas. Obviously, his knowledge of English must have failed him at that moment. /sarc off
Just wait until Bibi gets elected! Then there’ll really be h#ll to pay for rocket fire. Hopefully, it will amount to something like one “daisy cutter” in return for each mortar or rocket received. Maybe then the palestinians will belatedly learn not to “poke the tiger.”
Michel said, “No cause justifies a military action directed against civilians.” I disagree in two ways. First that Israel launched its war in Gaza against civilians. Second, that civilians that elected a terrorist organization as their government are innocent. Seems to me that if you vote for a terrorist organization that you are thereby aiding and abetting that organisation, and thereby, a defacto terrorist yourself.
He also said, “There has been a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law.” Yep. He’s right. But he’s wrong about the source of the violation. Israel wouldn’t have retaliated against no rockets-in that case, there’s nothing to retaliate for.
Feb 4, 2009 - 3:48 am 3. Craig:Viva la difference’!
Feb 4, 2009 - 3:50 am 4. Lisa:Why does Israel have to open its borders to a group of people who attacked those border crossings again and again, who used the to export terrorism into Israel and who actively seek Israel’s destruction?
Feb 4, 2009 - 4:02 am 5. Marian Kechlibar:The French used to be especially ruthless against civilians during the colonial wars in the middle of the 20th century.
In Algeria, they dealt with the FLN (an organization similar to Hamas in many aspects) by adopting their own terrorist methods including torture, and had a huge success (albeit not lastingly) in convincing the Arabs that they are even more savage and to-be-feared than the FLNs.
In Madagascar, the insurgency against French rule was suppressed with 20.000 dead civilians.
In Vietnam, the war with Viet Minh was a “dirty” one and bears this name till today.
In Cameroon, the insurgency before independence was crushed like bugs.
In all of these wars, numerous former Nazis from Wehrmacht and SS fought for the French as members of the Foreign Legion.
And now a French politician dares to lecture Israelis on war? His father could well have served in one of the mentioned bloodsheds, compared to which Gaza fades entirely.
Feb 4, 2009 - 5:02 am 6. hamas_secrets:Don’t expect this to be on CNN..maybe “EU official surprisingly blames Hamas militants for Gaza tragedy”
Feb 4, 2009 - 5:08 am 7. Concerned:We should send in that DoubleTapper guy!!!
He looks like an Action Figure! With lots of accessories.
And that Giant IDF Woman is incredible.
They could clean up Gaza pretty quickly. Don’t you think so?
Feb 4, 2009 - 5:55 am 8. Pajewmas tuba teakettle of fish:“Seems to me that if you vote for a terrorist organization that you are thereby aiding and abetting that organisation, and thereby, a defacto terrorist yourself.”
In the same vein, then why all the complaining about President Obama?
Feb 4, 2009 - 5:55 am 9. Anton:I am having trouble deciding what to beleive….a representative of the Euroweenies critising Hamas….. AFP altering a video…or maybe both! AAAHHHH the pain! My head is about to explode.
Really it is quite simple; Gaza votes for terrorists, ergo they are terrorists. Try getting involved with a Mafia drug organization and then trying to point the finger at the other guys when the FBI busts you. If you help them commit the crime you are also a criminal.
Feb 4, 2009 - 10:06 am 10. Marie Claude:uh, do you understand flamish ??? not me !!!
how could that be that the Frenchs had something to be responsible in the alterations of the report !!!!
um, what’s the problem ????
I think your talking of inner cooking press rooms !!! not of an info anymore, that is old as more than a week !!!
kinda an unfair way to set these bloody Frenchs on the sellette for all your tourments (I wonder, if that helps as a therapy !!!)
then again, forget AFP, the supposed state organ of press, see there a more righteous source : “Juif.corg”, see ya what the official organ of France is sayin
http://www.juif.org/diplomatie-moyen-orient/79608,sarkozy-denonce-la-responsabilite-du-hamas.php
eh, your article, it’s a “plouf” !!!
BTW, look at AP, see who are the managers :
http://www.ap.org/pages/about/board.html
Feb 4, 2009 - 11:04 am 11. Marc Malone:#10 Marie – Bonjours, Marie. Thanks for the link. It declares roughly the same thing. It’s the usual obligatory denouncing of the Israeli offensive, but puts most of the blame on Hamas.
We here know about AP and its board and bias. And I hope you know that I’m pulling you Frenchies’ chain? Your rightward drift is actually very encouraging to us. Our hopes are up. Go Frogs!
Feb 4, 2009 - 11:45 am 12. Anton:@10. Marie Claude:
Most people that I know consider the AP to be the initials for “Al-Queda Press”
AFP has earned a reputation for a “less than objective” approach to the Mid-East problems.
Feb 4, 2009 - 11:54 am 13. Marie Claude:I am astonished by the reverse psychology here (the purpose ???)
uh, HonestJon, kinda lazy for “being” so honest !!!
Marian, I am speechless for your knowledge of our “biased” history, can’t recognise a slicest bit of it except for the names that you quoted, even if your a lazy c**, get to the net, I dare you to find out that it’s even written there in your way !!!
Feb 4, 2009 - 11:58 am 14. Marie Claude:Marc, I appreciate your fairness
Feb 4, 2009 - 12:00 pm 15. Rubicon:I suppose that Frenchmen was a relative of those who decided to create Vichy France, then cooperate with the Nazi’s rather than fight them.
Feb 4, 2009 - 2:30 pm 16. Marie Claude:Too bad those Frenchmen & women who fought the Nazi’s through the resistance are not well represented any longer. But then, many of them died to make France free, so they have no offspring to now govern that once proud & freedom representing nation.
Rubis-con, is that that suits perfectly your approach LMAO
I see your doing quite well in your country, your just another mouthy idiot, that can see your bad side
I recall you that Roosvelt was collaborating with the Vichy regime (which did had an US diplomatic representation) and nazy Germany until Germany sunk one of your merchandises ship !!! bizarre also with Stalin !!! as we say here it’s called soaking up at all the hayracks !!!or (running with the hare and hunt with the hounds)
Feb 4, 2009 - 3:21 pm 17. Marie Claude:uh oh, Rubis-con, koog Mal dahin : http://kimel.net/fdr.html
yeah, your only nice, got to say it saddens me !!!
Feb 4, 2009 - 3:51 pm 18. HonestJon:Marie Claude:
Madame, I call them like I see them. The Palestinians in Gaza elected unrepentant terrorists to run their government. Therefore, they are culpable for what punishment they receive after Hamas “pokes the tiger.” There is a moral here: If you like to remain alive, don’t “poke the tiger!”
You said, “!!! bizarre also with Stalin !!!”
In times of war, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, Madame. Did not Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower keep the communists from taking over Europe after WWII? You should be very thankful to us “ugly Americans” that you don’t speak German. You should be doubly thankful that you don’t speak Russian!
That having been said, I’m in total agreeement with Mr. Malone. Having Sarkozy as French President is a great leap forward. Any rightward shift in any country of the EUSSR is greatly welcomed here.
You also said, “I recall you that Roosvelt was collaborating with the Vichy regime…”
At the time, America was encapsulated in neutrality, protectionism, isolationism, and had not been attacked. Much like PM Chamberlain of Britain, we didn’t (and never do) want war. However, we learned the hard way (Pearl Harbor, 9/11/01) as did Britain that appeasement never works. At some point, bullets must fly, bombs must drop, and politics by way of the gun is the only answer. I only hope that Israel has learned the lesson. It’s too bad that the Palestinians have apparently not. It’s also too bad that the French have not.
Is that dishonest? Madame?
Feb 4, 2009 - 10:02 pm 19. Marc Malone:#14 Madame Claude – Tu es bienvenue, ma petite-chou(e?). Gods, but my French is rusty. Maybe, that’s because I studied it 30 years ago?
You guys might as well not bother demeaning the French on this site, for they have a staunch defender, who will likely beat you every time. They’re used to defending themselves. (Hmm, that came out as a backhand slap. Oops.)
Feb 5, 2009 - 12:30 am 20. Marie Claude:subhonest, I can’t stand your remnent jeremiades and whinnings agains those ingrateful Frenchs, forget us for a while, you’d better focuse on your real enemies, cuz, it ain’t us, and we never were, shall I enumerate the “true” history since the beginnings, again ?
I only hope that Israel has learned the lesson. It’s too bad that the Palestinians have apparently not. It’s also too bad that the French have not.
yeah, and what lesson, that America didn’t lecture us ??? LMAO
Now, if you’d been an attentive fellow on that board, you might have read what I wrote (cuz, I got to repeat myself, um so many lazy pupils over there
) on the Israel/Hamas situation :
the problem that Israel faces in this conflict is the same that France faced within the Algeria war, military, she was superior and won each battle fieds she chose to fight, though not in the minds, this would have been a never endless conflict, de Gaulle understood it and preferred to reverse the “mind winning” into a France’s decision, therefore he gave the FNL the appearance of having “gainned” its dignity, and thus transforming the enemy into a future collaborator, that’s what Algeria has become for us, we make tradings together. Yes, there is the Islamist threat, Algeria has to face the most of it, and we help her with our renseignments, with the international renseignments agencies too, we have to collaborate , because the people prefer to live in security wherever they live.
now, the other problem of Israel is that she has lost her “civil” representation, only militaries lead the policies and therefore are for promoting the “radical solutions”, they may win on the ground, but never in the minds, and these are more numerous each year from whatever country in the world wide, not only lefties, that would condamn Israel.
So, feel free to interpret it as a typical french opinion !!!
Feb 5, 2009 - 8:41 am 21. Marie Claude:Marc
Feb 5, 2009 - 8:47 am 22. HonestJon:I would say, “ma petite chouchoute”, or “mon chou”, or “mon petit lapin”, um, not “petite lapine” though, kinda displaced and rude…
8. Pajewmas tuba teakettle of fish: In the same vein, then why all the complaining about President Obama?
My guess would be that those who are complaining are the ones who didn’t vote for him…
Feb 5, 2009 - 8:55 pm 23. HonestJon:Marie Claude:
I don’t interpret it as a typical French opinion. I do consider it a liberal position.
And I don’t believe the French are our enemies. They might, however, be our erstwhile allies.
#19 Marc: Point taken. It’s really hard to talk sense to leftists. Giggle, giggle.
Feb 5, 2009 - 9:04 pm 24. Marie Claude:subhonest, before trying to talk to supposed “leftists”, it would be wise for you, first, not calling them with names that don’t define them, second, check your dires before writting them down, third, don’t take the others for witnessing your so misunderstood, fourth, you could have been an interesting interlocutor, but your base is biased, can’t help you if you don’t make a revision
Feb 6, 2009 - 2:31 am 25. HonestJon:5. Marian Kechlibar: That was then, this is now. The Europeans have helped evolve this gob of PC that we all now strangle in. Today, everybody has a camera cell phone (even starving Palestinians!) and can and will take pictures of anything and everything (see Michael Phelps).
It wasn’t like this-even a few years ago. I’d almost bet that the firebombings of Dresden and Tokyo were portrayed as great Allied victories during WWII.
At this point, every line of communication, excepting smoke signals, needs to be cut off from Gaza (complete media blackout). Total war must result-with no “taqiyya” from the Arab side! Resistance must be crushed until the siren call of prosperity can take over.
Affluent people don’t make war.
In the mean time, Israel must ensure security for her citizens. And she must control all imports to Gaza. For the foreseeable future, Israel must control Gaza to prevent further war.
And yes, Marian Kechlibar, the French were duplicitous, and shall always be so long as their sovereignty isn’t threatened. They, as a general rule, as Marie Claude put it on a different thread, “run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.”
Feb 6, 2009 - 3:29 am 26. HonestJon:I apologize, Madame Claude, for the presumed disparagement. However, your stance on this issue, from what I can glean from your broken English, is, decidedly liberal or leftist. I don’t presume to know what your stances on other issues might be, but on this one, it is unquestionably liberal or leftist.
It is fairly difficult for me to debate someone who doesn’t write my language well. I’m culpable, as well, for having forgotten the nuances French class in high school. For that, I apologize.
You make the claim that, “my base is biased,” and I suppose, with consideration to my understanding of your comprehension of English, that you are correct. I only wish the equality of all-just like in the Bible.
And, Merci, mon ami! I now have a new nickname for my new nickname, “subhonestHonestJon.” Merci bien, Mademoiselle!
/sarc off
Feb 6, 2009 - 3:54 am 27. Marie Claude:uh, subhonest until the bottom line, I guess,
what I really wrote :
I recall you that Roosvelt was collaborating with the Vichy regime (which did had an US diplomatic representation) and nazy Germany until Germany sunk one of your merchandises ship !!! bizarre also with Stalin !!! as we say here it’s called soaking up at all the hayracks !!!or (running with the hare and hunt with the hounds
OK, let’s go for the language contest now, funny, sometimes I am very well capisce, now your a bad loser too, say, subonestedinbadluser
Feb 6, 2009 - 10:36 am 28. Oscar the Grump:Marie Caude
Feb 6, 2009 - 11:22 am 29. Marie Claude:You wrote in French again. You know the effect it has on me. Grrrrrrrrr
Its fun reading your spunky answers. I don’t agree with you,but its still fun to read.
Oscar “capisce” is italiano
Feb 6, 2009 - 12:03 pm 30. Oscar the Grump:Marie Claude,
Sorry, that just took the wind out of my sails. Go get em girl!
Guys, don’t be too rough on her. She’s a breath of fresh air compared to the lunies that get on this blog.
Feb 6, 2009 - 1:23 pm 31. Oscar the Grump:Hamas has hijacked the last two shipments of food from the UN. The UN has suspended aid shipments to Gaza. How is Europe going to handle this one?
Feb 6, 2009 - 1:36 pm 32. Marie Claude:my dear grincheux, Europe don’t f**ing care, they can all blown themselve up so long we have gaz, wine, and cheeze
and Hamas don’t make our secular laws, umm CAIR is more powerful in your country, and the Brits are already dhimmies, but we all know that, except that they managed to make their lies look like “true” for the stoopid Americans
Feb 6, 2009 - 2:48 pm 33. Oscar the Grump:Marie your English is getting better. I love when you talk *** to me.
Tell me what you think of Sweden tossing out the Israeli ambassador and Israel doing likewise.
Feb 6, 2009 - 5:01 pm 34. Marie Claude:hey, it looks like that the Vickings have lost their virulent DNA, or the Brits invented their legeng of brave soldiers, um “Beowulf” was the premise of “Winnie the Pooh” !!!
also weren’t Vickings slaves by Ottoman’s, once upon a time ?
Feb 6, 2009 - 6:08 pm 35. HonestJon:33. Oscar the Grump: I, as well as you, am having a certain difficulty deciphering Mme.
Claude’s English. At least she gives it a shot.
27. Marie Claude: Perhaps we’re having a misunderstanding due to not being able to comprehend the true meanings of what the other is saying. I sorely wish you would get a friend that is truely fluent in English and French to help you translate a little better. It would make the arguement, at least for me, more enjoyable.
The French have been invaded, as well as have the Brits. Here’s what the Muslims plan for you: They plan on taking over your democracy by outbreeding you. Unless the fecundity of the non-Muslim population skyrockets, you’ll be a dhimmi soon, too. The exact same thimg is happening here in the USA. Except that it’s the Hispanics that are trying this method here. The town I live in, Lexington, KY will soon be renamed Mexington. Good luck in your struggle, Mme.
Feb 6, 2009 - 7:17 pm 36. Oscar the Grump:It is possible that the Turks did enslave some vikings. The vikings made it all the was to Constantinople via Russia. for sure there probably were contacts in Southern Russia. There is some graphiti left in St. Sophia by the Vikings, where one viking carved his name in some wood. The only thing I can do is conjecture. It would have been some meeting.
Feb 6, 2009 - 11:25 pm 37. Marie Claude:subhonest
do you understand f***you !!!!or vas te faire voir chez les Grecs
Feb 7, 2009 - 1:33 am 38. HonestJon:37. Marie Claude:
Like I said above, my French is rusty at best. Thanks to my forefathers, anyway, for their diligence during WWII surely prevented you from having to learn that in German or Russian.
Feb 7, 2009 - 7:50 am 39. view from afar:marie claude pourquoi vous etes si grossiere a la fin, il ne se moque pas de vous. Oscar le gringeux meme vous avez complementée, et Marc Malone etes gentil, mais un peu tongue-in-cheek, ou ironic si vous voudriez. En plus de vous entendre, vous návez pas voté Royale le dernier election…pourquoi vous vous envervez autant? Honest jon a egalement s’excuser de peut-etre vous mal comprendre. Votre anglais me confonde un peu et je vis en France ou jái entendue un anglais beaucoup plus mauvais que le votre. enfin bonsoir, ou bonjour comme meme
Feb 7, 2009 - 4:48 pm 40. Marie Claude:view from afar, tu n’as rien compris, c’est un jeu !!!!
__________________
Mr Honest, I’m in good moon, why don’t you upgrade your history books
uh, May-be the Vikings teached rape o the Ottomans
__________________
Oscar,
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2004/02/0217_040217_vikings.html
Feb 8, 2009 - 9:40 am 41. Marie Claude:Oscar,
uh, May-be the Vikings teached rape to the Ottomans
Feb 8, 2009 - 9:42 am 42. Oscar the Grump:Marie Claude,mon petit chou chou
Do you think they had a school for it? Could you imagine the graduation exercise?
Thanks for the article, it was interesting.
Feb 8, 2009 - 8:02 pm 43. Marie Claude:oscar, if they were sea-warriors they must have known some brothels (taverns in these barbarian times) where they must have been “educated” ; I don’t think that the Vikings developped the raffinment of the hindu kamasutra though.
In “Eric the Viking” movie, it is said that raping was part of a warrior rewarding, ummm like the rapt of the Sabines by the Romans, who didn’t intend to make them some virgin vestales
Feb 8, 2009 - 10:20 pm 44. Honest Jon:40. Marie Claude: Mr Honest, I’m in good moon, why don’t you upgrade your history books
I rebut you in the following manner: “I fart in your general direction! I wave my private parts at your auntie! I unplug my nose at you! Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries!”
Feb 11, 2009 - 12:50 pm