New York Daily News

Israel 'terror' slip by Clinton foe

Sen. Hillary Clinton's little-known Democratic challenger is feeling the heat after saying "yeah" in an answer to whether he thought Israel is a terrorist state.
In a discussion recorded for city politics blog Room Eight, anti-war candidate Jonathan Tasini prefaced the affirmative answer by saying terrorism was a "loaded word," and that he believed Israel was breaking international law by shelling Lebanon.

Tasini insists the "yeah" referred to Israel breaking the law, not being a terrorist state.

"I am critical of Israel the way I'm critical of the United States and the war in Iraq," Tasini said. "I know this is considered the third rail of New York politics. ... But as a Jew, I care very deeply about Israel. I have family who live there."

He added that his criticism meant only to help Israel. "If you don't have an evenhanded policy, if you don't abide by international law, it's bad for Israel over the long run," he said.

Michael McAuliff