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Landau. 'Each person has his own style'
Photo: Tal Shahar

Minister Landau: Ya'alon was right – look at the Swedes

Government ministers slam Swedish organ harvesting report, while Yisrael Beiteinu's Landau lashes out at 'heavy damage caused to the State of Israel by Peace Now, the elites and the media.' Interior minister says won't grant work permits to Swedish newspaper's reporters

National Infrastructure Minister Uzi Landau on Sunday morning backed statements made last week by Vice Premier Moshe Ya'alon, who referred to Israel's Left as "a virus". The minister also linked that incident to the Swedish newspaper report accusing Israel Defense Forces soldiers of harvesting organs of Palestinians.

 

"The incitement continues since last week," Minister Landau said before entering the weekly cabinet meeting, joining his fellow government members in condemning the Swedish government for not speaking out against the controversial article, but expanding his remarks to the situation in Israel.

 

According to Landau, "Ya'alon said correct things about the heavy damages caused to the State of Israel by Peace Now, the elites, and the media. The link is that the Swedish affair and the harm caused to Ya'alon were part of a public smearing campaign."

 

Asked whether he shares the opinion that Peace Now is a virus, the minister said, "Each person has his own style, but Peace Now members – who chanted during their rallies 'Begin is a murderer', 'Sharon is a murderer' and 'the settlers are cancer' – are not exactly the people who can complain about others calling them names.

 

"There is no doubt that we must call for restraint, but I suggest directing this question first and foremost to those who always inflame the situation," Landau continued. "The argument is over the right to express one's opinion so that you are not degraded."

 

Many ministers slammed Sweden on Sunday morning, and Interior Minister Eli Yishai announced that he would not be approving stay and work permits for reporters of the "degrading newspaper".

 

Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz said Sunday morning, "We are in a crisis until the Swedish government issues a different response.

 

"The State of Israel, the Jewish people's state, cannot ignore expressions of anti-Semitism, even if they are made in a respectable newspaper. Those refusing to renounce such blood libels may become unwanted in the State of Israel," he said.

 

Social Affairs Minister Isaac Herzog noted that this was not a one-time incident, "but a media campaign which has been going on for years."

 

And as for Peace Now, on Sunday morning the organization released another report on the expected settlement construction freeze, claiming that the government was using "tricks" to continue the old-new construction.

 


פרסום ראשון: 08.23.09, 11:48
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