Ken Livingstone
Photo: Sky News
Livingstone: Palestinian state answer to Munich
London Mayor says a Palestinian state is only way to commemorate victims of Munich Olympics
London Mayor Ken Livingstone rarely misses an opportunity to criticize Israel.
His latest verbal hostility towards the Jewish State came in a response to proposal by Sebastian Coe, Chairman of the London Organizing Committee for the Olympic Games in 2012, that a ceremony be held to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the massacre of Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympics in 1972.
Britain’s ITN Television asked a number of public figures to give their opinion on the proposal and here is what Livingstone had to say: “The most suitable way to commemorate the Munich Olympics is the creation of a Palestinian state next to Israel but without barriers.”
The Israeli Embassy in London condemned the remarks, saying Livingstone is making cynical use of a historical tragedy to serve his political agenda.
In August Livingstone faced a disciplinary hearing for comparing a Jewish journalist to a Nazi concentration camp guard.
The Standards Board for England said an investigation into charges that Livingstone "failed to treat others with respect and brought his authority into disrepute" had concluded that a disciplinary hearing should take up the matter. Livingstone refused to apologize.
