Giuliani: I admire Sharon

Former NY mayor says during a visit to Israel he respects Sharon for putting his country's interests before his own, adds Netanyahu 'still young'
Eli Shimoni

Many political leaders consider Rudolph Giuliani, who served as Mayor of New York during the September 11 terrorist attacks and wiped out crime from his city, to be their role model.

Giuliani, who arrived in Israel Wednesday to attend a leadership convention, said at a press conference he looks up to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for "always putting his country's interests before his own," adding that such people are hard to come by.

"I see this visit to Israel as a very interesting opportunity for me. This country is close to my heart, as well as to America's," said Giuliani, adding that he however regrets he cannot be in New York now, to support the city's legendary baseball team, the Yankees.

'Sharon a true patriot, Netanyahu still young'

At the press conference Wednesday, Giuliani was repeatedly asked what he thought of Sharon's leadership capabilities. The former mayor talked about a meeting he had with Sharon in New York at the wake of the September 11 terror attacks.

"I told my kids they are about to meet a true patriot who deeply cares about his country."

Giuliani referred to Sharon's conduct during the disengagement, saying that Sharon did things that were necessary, even when they harmed him politically or went against his party's ideological line.

"In this he reminds me of British Prime Minister Blair, who faced difficulties before the war in Iraq, but nevertheless supported it for the sake of his country."

And what about Benjamin Netanyahu? "Netanyahu is my friend," Giuliani said, "he did great things for Israel, but he is still young. He has a long way ahead of him."