Last update - 00:00 18/05/2007
Gaydamak: PM has no right to criticize my actions in Sderot
By Lily Galili, Haaretz Correspondent
Russian-Israeli businessman Arcadi Gaydamak lashed out Thursday at Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, calling him "a nothing" in response to Olmert's criticism of Gaydamak's assistance in evacuating some Sderot residents.
Gaydamak mocked Olmert because he "sent Israelis to their deaths for no reason, only to show that he is a leader, has no right to criticize my activities for the residents of Sderot," Gaydamak told Haaretz. "He is not a mensch. He is a nothing. I am doing what any Jew ought to do," he added.
Gaydamak also said Olmert had no right to decide for other people's children whether they should stay or go, as long as he could not provide them with the necessary protection. Gaydamak said the decision was not "for a man that appears to be a prime minister but should not be in the job. This is not a matter of the Zionist ethos," Gaydamak also said.
"It is about personal security. Only stupid Olmert could define the evacuation of children as a humiliation, and then bastard reporters passed responsibility to Gaydamak for disorder in getting on the buses in Sderot. Israelis push, but reporters blame Gaydamak, who supposedly did not organize it properly," the tycoon said.
According to Gaydamak, he has already asked experts on reinforcement of buildings and has found a unique solution that will allow shelters to be added to existing structures. He said the work would take about four months.
The Prime Minister's Bureau said it was not interested in responding to Gaydamak's remarks.
Barak Ravid also contributed to this report.