Israel condemns 'poison' remark by Annan envoy

Israel is considering a formal protest to the United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan after his top envoy described the Jewish state as “the great poison” in the Middle East.

Fury erupted when Lakhdar Brahimi, who is trying to help Iraqis agree on a transitional government to take power on June 30, gave an interview to France Inter radio on Wednesday, criticising both Israel’s repressive policy and America’s support for it.