Carrying The Burden

"Israel and Australia are like sisters in Asia," Tamir said in an interview with Haaretz during a visit to Israel this week. "We are in Asia without the characteristics of Asians. We don't have yellow skin and slanted eyes. Asia is basically the yellow race. Australia and Israel are not - we are basically the white race. We are on the western side of Asia and they are on the southeastern side." (Source: Haaretz.com) " "If they are accurate, these are grave and inappropriate expressions that the Foreign Ministry will not allow to pass without a response," she said. Ministry officials said Mr Tamir was on a flight to Australia and had not yet been reached for clarification. According to Haaretz, the ministry said it would not return to business as usual if an internal examination confirmed that Mr Tamir made the comments attributed to him. Mr Tamir met Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni during the week, emphasising the potential for developing trade and other links in Asia through Australia. " (Source: AP in http://www.news.com.au/ ) Last time I looked Lebanon was in Asia. It must be so hard to carry the white man's burden so close to home. Du