E.U. Chief Says Comments on Toulouse, Gaza ‘Distorted’
The European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton denied Tuesday that she intended to parallel Monday’s attack on a Jewish school in Toulouse, saying that he comments were “grossly distorted.”
Ashton’s remarks came amid backlash to comments she had made at a conference titled “Palestine Refugees in the changing Middle East” following the deadly shooting attack in the south of France.
Speaking at the event, the EU’s foreign minister said all should remember the young people who have been killed in all sorts of terrible circumstances – the Belgian children having lost their lives in a terrible tragedy and when we think of what happened in Toulouse today, when we remember what happened in Norway a year ago, when we know what is happening in Syria, when we see what is happening in Gaza and in different parts of the world – we remember young people and children who lose their lives.”
Ashton’s comments, perceived as linking the attack in Toulouse and civilian deaths in Gaza, drew strong condemnation from Israeli officials.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
