The Finn Isn't Even Funny

Reported

Finnish Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said Wednesday that Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories is tantamount to apartheid, warning that time was running out for a two-state solution.

"If you are occupying areas inhabited by... Palestinians who do not have the same rights as the Israelis in Israel, that is apartheid and that is not sustainable," he told reporters.

A more detailed report:

Tuomioja on Israel: “Apartheid state not justified”

“No apartheid state is justified or sustainable”, said Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Erkki Tuomioja (SDP) in Helsinki on Tuesday evening. The Prime minister was referring to Israel during a panel discussion on the future of Palestine at Helsinki’s Old Student house. Tuomioja also said that now could be the last opportunity to work for a two-state model in the area.

Tuomioja used the apartheid analogy in his previous term as Foreign Minister in 2003, in his criticism of the so-called security wall. After the panel discussion, Tuomioja noted that the apartheid analogy was not his invention. “Didn’t Ehud Barak use the same term?” Tuomioja asked.

In February 2010, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak warned that failure to reach a peace agreement between Israel and the Palestinians would not bring lasting peace, and would result in an apartheid state.

Tuomioja went on to soften the analogy by saying that if Israel tries to freeze the status quo, an apartheid state would be the final result. “Now, Israel has still formally approved the parameters of peace talks.”

Tuomioja doesn't know what he is talking about.

Almost every country includes residents who can't vote either for the national or even the local elections. That is not apartheid.

The Finn isn't even funny.


UPDATE

Upcomng conference.

(k/t=LM)
^