Prof Niza Nachmias: unnecessary to give too much weight to Annan's anti-Israel sentiments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2006
University of Haifa - Haifa, Israel

PROF. NIZA NACHMIAS, SCHOOL OF POLITICAL SCIENCE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF HAIFA: "UNNECESSARY TO GIVE TOO MUCH WEIGHT TO UN SECRETARY-GENERAL'S ANTI-ISRAEL SENTIMENTS"

"It was inappropriate for Kofi Annan, United Nations' Secretary-General, to announce that the deaths of four United Nations soldiers were deliberately caused by Israel. Annan should have investigated the event in depth and dealt with it through diplomacy," states Prof. Niza Nachmias, expert on international organizations at the University of Haifa's School of Political Science. According to Prof. Nachmias, past experience teaches that the United Nations' Secretary General will apologize, retract his remarks and claim that they were taken out of context.

Prof. Nachmias explains that Annan, who is soon due to retire, feels that he is no longer relevant and thus allows himself to give vent to all his anti-Israel sentiments. That is the reason that he permits himself to make assertions in a highly spontaneous manner.

"Not to worry, his remarks do not need to be taken seriously, and only someone who wants to make propaganda will make use of them. World leaders and global world opinion will not be influenced," says Prof. Nachmias, emphasizing that in her opinion there will be no deterioration in the relations between Israel and
the deceased soldiers' countries.

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