Official slams UN's Holmes for comments on 'cycle of violence'

By MARK WEISS
Foreign Ministry Director-General Aharon Abramovitch on Monday slammed UN Undersecretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs John Holmes for comments he made in Sderot the previous day. Holmes on Sunday referred to "the cycle of violence" between Israel and the Palestinians. Abramovitch, meeting with Holmes at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, said "such comments create an analogy between terrorists and those who are defending themselves from terror." He warned that such language could unwittingly encourage terrorist elements to believe that the international community will exert pressure on Israel instead of dealing with the roots of the violence. Abramovitch said Jerusalem expects the UN and democratic states, some of which face similar challenges from extremist elements, to support Israel in its struggle against terror and the organizations that deny its existence.