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French ambassador calls Israel paranoid

TEL AVIV, Israel, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- France's ambassador to Israel is in diplomatic hot water after calling the Jewish state "paranoid" and its prime minister, Ariel Sharon, "a lout."

Israeli Education Minister Limor Livnat told the London Telegraph the remarks attributed to Gerard Araud were "very grave" and said Israel should refuse to accept his ambassadorship.

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Boaz Bissmuth, a correspondent for the Israeli daily Yediot Ahronot, reported overhearing Araud in conversation with other French diplomats at a recent Paris cocktail party.

The newspaper said Araud did not know an Israeli journalist was nearby. Bissmuth said when he introduced himself, Araud asked him not to report what he heard because it was a private conversation.

Bissmuth said he published the remarks because they indicated possible bias from an envoy of "a key European Union member state".

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