Like many other credulous souls (including journalists at the BBC and Jerusalem Post), I reported last week that Louis Michel, the EU's commissioner in charge of humanitarian relief, had said Hamas bore 'overwhelming responsibility' for the destruction in Gaza.
Well, as John Rosenthal reports here, it ain't actually so. Agence France Presse (AFP) reported those words, but they do not occur in any of the transcripts. What Michel does say is, "We condemn military operations that target the Palestinian people and their property, all such acts are flagrant violations of international humanitarian law." On another occasion, he concedes that Hamas 'also' bears a 'very high responsibility'. He adds that of course he doesn't 'accept' what Israel has done.
So why did AFP misquote him? Could it be to present the EU in a more 'neutral' light as it seeks to enhance its role as power broker in the Mideast conflict? That would be consistent with current French policy - and the French government has a representative on AFP's board. If so, it is a noble effort worthy of praise, this transformation of an outspoken left-wing Belgian politician known for years as Louis the Lip into a responsible diplomat.
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