Daniel Bernard (diplomat)
French diplomat (1941-2004)
Daniel Bernard (13 September 1941; Lyon – 29 April 2004; Paris) was a French diplomat who served as the Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Algeria. He is remembered for a controversial remark about Israel.
Controversial remark
Reported remark
In 2001, Daniel Bernard came to public attention when, as French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, he was quoted as saying: "All the current troubles in the world are because of that shitty little country, Israel." The diplomat added, "Why should the world be in danger of World War III because of those people?"
The remark was reported to have taken place during a conversation with Conrad Black of The Daily Telegraph at a private dinner party Black was hosting. Bernard's comment was then later repeated in an article written by Black's wife, Barbara Amiel, in The Daily Telegraph.
Initially, Bernard stated that he could not remember making it, but later insisted that what he said had been thoroughly distorted. Bernard's press secretary stated, "He does not deny the remarks, he just says first of all what he said was distorted." He also stated that he was outraged that a private discussion was reported by the media and clearly stated that he would not apologise.
Bernard's spokesman, Yves Charpentier, stated that Bernard felt there was no need for him to apologize. He stated that "In the course of the discussion the ambassador referred to 'little Israel' in the sense that it is geographically small, but that nevertheless the scale of the consequences is huge and the repercussions around the world are tremendous."
Bernard's response
In a subsequent letter to The Daily Telegraph, Bernard insisted his remarks had been distorted, writing that:
'Over the past few days, I have been the subject of grave accusations because of a comment I am reported to have made during a conversation with Lord Black. The facts are: while we were discussing the Israeli-Palestinian issue, I pointed out to Lord Black that this tragedy was taking place in a geographically limited area (I even specified that it was the equivalent of three French departments) that for 40 years had been suffering from a conflict whose equitable solution seems more out of reach than ever. Of course, I never meant to insult Israel or any other part of that region.
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