Israeli ambassador Ruth Kahanoff was given the diplomatic equivalent of a slap on the wrist yesterday after being summoned to hear the Government's objections to the military occupation of the West Bank.
Foreign Minister Phil Goff said he told her that while New Zealand had expressed "its unequivocal condemnation of suicide
bombings and understands Israel's desire to protect its people", the effects of the military action were "intolerable".
The New Zealand Government wanted Israel to withdraw immediately from the occupied territories and resume peace negotiations.
Ms Kahanoff said the action was necessary to catch terrorists and Israel wanted to withdraw as soon as possible.
The ambassador said New Zealanders might see things differently if they were in Israel.
"When you sit here in New Zealand ... surrounded by oceans with no threats on your life ... Where you have wonderful neighbours who obviously accept your right to exist, things might look different."
- NZPA
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