How Israel's Tourism Minister spends a 'work week' in Spain

"It is from the country of Inqusition that really put all Jews on trial". Thanks! That's a polite compliment! Here, this is for you: http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2009/01/10/q-israel-s-use-white-phosphorus-gaza http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100106/FOREIGN/701059823/1002/NEWS http://noticias.lainformacion.com/politica/defensa/casi-cien-mujeres-israelies-reconocen-haber-maltratado-a-palestinos-durante-el-servicio-militar_DEuHq5cLfYcAW16IuBVNa7/ (spanish, if you don't mind) See you, pal!

"more than 50 businessmen who had arrived in Madrid from Spain" How is this possible? Medrid is in Spain.

he should resign.

Dear Chris. First of all, he had no "itenarary" but a schedule. The article clearly describes unententional confict of two scheduled events, Commemoration & dinner. The former was longer than expected. And now the vulcano of emotion erupted.Your emotions are quite predictable. You are fully empoloyed at this blog and in one specific role, namely to throw mud at Israel. That is the reason for You being at this blog. Yor was given explanation how $ 3.b. is to be spent. If it is not enough I would like to tell You that personally it is Your 0.000015 cent waisted on the Tourism Miister Of Israel. I don't know how it can be recompensed. The rest of vulcano eruption is no less predictable: Ben Gurion turning in his grave, Russian Jews are not being Jews, firing practices of capitalism , danger and lure of Madrid and one suggestion to put all Israeli of military age on trial. The last one is very interesting, indeed. It is from the country of Inqusition that really put all Jews on trial.

Then Misezhnikov is the best Tourism Minister Israel could find. With Ministers like this, who needs enemies? Kick him out immediately, apologize to the 50 businessmen officially, and return them their 65 euros for the failed dinner.

We understand that USA hands out 3 billion US$ per year to Israel on the condition that they are spent with US companies. It is a way for the US government to give money to US companies to maintain them afloat. That certainly does not mean that the US are paying all Israel's bills. Furthermore, Israel is buying US$ every week to keep this currency from falling even more and we have so much dollars now that we could lend 1,7 billions to the International Monetary Fund to help countries in Europe or like the US to go over the crisis...

... just a pity that he was a minister, representing the State of Israel...

#6: Wrong. Antisemites love to preach that Judaism is a "religion." It is also a "race." Jews originated in Judea and are a "semitic race." Jews do not convert except in rare cases.

Stas is an idiot. He should be canned. On the other hand, it is amusing to see that this article is another pretext for the usual idiots to emerge from their holes -- Mr. Linthwaite who thinks that the U.S. pays Israel's bills, rather than engaging in highly directed military technology subsidies that serve the U.S. government's domestic purposes; Mr. Manolo who does not understand international law, nor how court trials function; and so forth. Really, isn't it possible to criticize Israeli policy without descending into the racist hysterics of a Linthwaite or a Manolo? Not for some, it would seem.

.."Or was the Tourism Minister of Israel fully prepared to have a jolly at the expense of the American Taxpayer (who pays Israel`s bills)" Chris, its quite evident your maturity level is that of my 4 year old's son (if not less). Your little snippets about American aid to Israel although infactual are a bit of a bore. May I also mention your daily racist and slanderous rants about Jews and Israel as a whole? Your hate and ignorance is tasteless. I guess someone did not get enough hugs from Mommy growing up. Now for the Minister in question. His actions are apalling and completely unacceptable. He should be remprimanded and even fired for his unprofessional behavior.

As a Spaniard, I expect my country to arrest war criminals (which all Israelis in military age are by definition unless proven otherwise) on sight, give them a fair trial and jail them for the next 30 years.

That he was going to undertake whilst in Spain on official business. Or was the Tourism Minister of Israel fully prepared to have a jolly at the expense of the American Taxpayer (who pays Israel's bills)

What a disgrace! What did he think he was doing! Having a free holiday on the State of Israel. Who does he think he is! If he cannot fulfill his duties as a minister, he should not be allowed to be one! Kick him out!!!

don't they? How about teaching these people diplomacy, before they actually work in it ??? I am so sick of the reward system in Israeli politics; we are turning into a banana republic.

Not surprising. Madrid is really fun. The fact that some of Spain's top business folk came to show their collective support and listen this no show young minister, shows only true disregard for diplomatic etiquette. Then again, who can expect less from those that are "jobnicks"! Shalom.

There must be consequences for our Tourism Minister when he gets home. He did not do the job he was appointed to do. Israel needs all the positive PR it can possibly get, and tourism is an important industry in our tiny country. Even worse, Spain is a country which is increasingly hostile to Israel, with Zapatero favouring the Arab narrative, increasing anti-Semitism, and pressures from the hordes of Arab migrant workers living there.

between the tourism minister and the foreign minister and his staff poor israel is well served. do we realy deserve such competant people to represent us around the world? how great are the benefits we have thanks to them!!!

Shameful? not to many of our "diplomats". Joie de vivre is in order after a long stretch in such a tiny country as ours.

What a disgrace..Ben Gurion is turning in his grave. Fire the guy immediately!

How could a jewish Russian becomes an Israeli? He has no feelings to a country like Israel, far away from his real home. He did it correctly and wisely. His mistake was he went to Israel for some reasons. This proves also that not every Jew must be an Israeli. I met lot of Russian guys in Europe, some of whom were Jews and they loved Russia and were not ready to go to Israel. Jewish is a faith, not an ethnical belonging. The behaviour of this man shows he doesn't care for Israel.

Is any one even bothered ? does Israel have such a good name that we can afford to rebuff what friends we have ? I am not surprised I see the influence of our foreign minister . If he was working for a private company he would be summoned back to Israel and the spot and kicked out on his ass

Schoolboy behaviour. Not acceptable. If you want to leave a night clear, don't pre-book people who support you (more for the Office you hold than for your ability or personality), and yet whom you clearly take for granted. You are not representing yourself but the people who voted for you. Get your act together. Choose better representation, Israel. Professionalism matters.

This gentleman worked very hard for Israel. Having been at trade shows for weeks at a time it is exhausting and we need to realize every event in our lives is a learning experience. So far I like the ideas of his that his has turned in. Tourism expanding and unlovening as he put it is a great idea. I agree with the idea of making Jerusalum back to a candle city with high tech values around hidden in old world. Not a acting crew always there to meet you but bringing back the real old world values to the area as well in Galilea because I finally saw the Jesus World he was talking about in California. Each persons faith is justified by their standing before God their God. Making Israel beautiful of old with fine class and hidden technology like violence activated security lights and monitors without sight. I agree with him. Good Job. Iran is a beautiful nation to see as well. Rankoo-Karoon

If this is the caliber of politicians in high office, it is no wonder that Israel is politically becoming a failed state.