Shot Maltese activist ‘sent by Hamas’ – ambassador

Activists like Bianca Zammit were being used by Hamas to plant bombs at disputed borders, according to Israeli Ambassador to Malta Gideon Meir.

“I’m sorry about what happened but she was sent by the Hamas and the International Solidarity Movement to the border,” the Rome-based ambassador tells Herman Grech in an interview.

Ms Zammit was shot by Israeli soldiers last week when she was protesting at the Gaza border, threatening a diplomatic incident.

The ambassador insists that the International Solidarity Movement with whom Ms Zammit is affiliated is in cahoots with Hamas, the resistance movement which he claims is using youngster as cover to plant bombs at the Israeli border.

He urges Maltese parents to bar their children from going to combat zones, even if they believe they are fighting for a just cause.

“You don’t send your people to places like Afghanistan. You want to be a pro Palestinian (campaigner)? Fine. Do it from Valletta or do it from Gaza city...”

Asked to react to a Maltese government statement, which was swift to condemn the shooting of Ms Zammit, Mr Meir said he expected western governments to also be sensitive to Israelis who are being killed by Palestinians

The ambassador also speaks about the prospect of peace in the Middle East, and dismisses claims that a right-wing Israeli government was incapable of hammering out a deal with the Palestinians.

Watch excerpts of the interview by clicking on the link above. Read the entire interview in today’s edition of The Sunday Times.