Anti-Semitism (archive)
Photo: Daniel Kirshner
British diplomat suspended for cursing Israel: I'm not racist
Rowan Laxton, senior British civil servant, heard by Jew using foul language against Jews and Israel, calling 'to blow Israel off map' claims in court he is not racist. 'I regret using foul, imprecise language,' he says
The senior British diplomat charged with racially aggravated harassment for making derogatory comments about Jews and Israel
during Operation Cast Lead
said Wednesday in court that he is sorry for the way in which he expressed himself, but that he is not a racist, according to a report in British newspaper, The Times.
Rowan Laxton, 48, who served as head of the South Asia desk in Britain's Foreign Office, was suspended in February after his angry tirade against Israel for its actions in Operation Cast Lead was leaked to the press. He allegedly made the offending comments while working out in a London gym as he watched a report of a Palestinian farmer killed in the Gaza Strip.
Gideon Falter, the Jew and fellow gym-mate who overheard the comments at the gym and tipped off the media to the ensuing altercation between him and Laxton, gave his testimony to the London court Wednesday. Falter said that he arrived at the gym a little after 8 am when he overheard Laxton's outburst. Falter said he heard Laxton shout, "F***ing Israelis, f***ing Jews."
Upon hearing this, Falter reportedly confronted Laxton about the offensive comments. According to Falter, Laxton admitted that he was the one to make the comments and said, "It’s not racist. If I had my way, the international community would be sent in and if the Israelis got in the way, they would be blown off the face of the f***ing Earth."
Laxton, during his testimony to the court, denied having used the term "f***ing Jews" or saying that Israel should be wiped off the face of the Earth. He did, however, admit to being particularly angered by the Sky News report he had seen on television about the death of a Palestinian farmer in an Israeli bombing raid and believed that international intervention would solve the problem. He noted that he immediately apologized to Falter.
Laxton's Jewish friend: He's not an anti-Semite
Laxton said before the court, "I am embarrassed, to be honest with you. I offended somebody, I embarrassed the Foreign Office, I’ve caused anxiety to a number of friends and family and in particular I regret using foul language and I regret using imprecise language.
“I regret very much the way in which this case came out in the media and the suggestion that I am anti-Semitic or racist in any way. I am not. I fully accept that my comments suggested I felt that everybody in Israel was somehow responsible for that action.”
The court was informed that Laxton had completed a "difficult" divorce from his Muslim wife the morning of the incident, which he did not believe was fair to him.
Laxton's friends, including one whose father perished in the Holocaust, testified in court that Laxton is not a racist or an anti-Semite. However, during police questioning immediately after the incident, Laxton admitted to using the term "f***ing Israelis."
Laxton has been suspended from his position in the Foreign Office pending the trial's outcome. Should he be found guilty, he will be permanently stripped of his post.
