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British diplomat caught swearing at Israel could face charges

Israel Materials 10 February 2009 17:44 (UTC +04:00)

British diplomat and expert on the Middle East has been arrested for swearing at "Israelis and Jews" while watching TV footage on the Gaza campaign last month, media reports said Tuesday.

The Daily Telegraph said that Rowan Laxton, 47, allegedly shouted "f*****g Israelis" "f*****g Jews" while watching the reports in a London gym, dpa reported.

He is also alleged to have said Israeli soldiers should be "wiped off the face of the earth" during the rant, which was overheard by staff and gym members.

A complaint was made to police and Laxton was arrested for inciting religious hatred through threatening words and behaviour. He was subsequently bailed until late next month, the report said.

The maximum penalty for inciting religious hatred is a seven-year prison term or a fine or both.

Laxton, who is still working normally, is head of the South Asia Group at the Foreign Office, the Telegraph said. He is responsible for Britain's diplomacy in that area and for briefing Foreign Secretary David Miliband, who is Jewish.

He ran the British High Commission in Pakistan for three years before moving to Afghanistan in 2001.

The alleged incident occurred after Laxton went to a London gym after work on January 27.

"The gym was pretty full and everyone looked totally shocked. That sort of racist language is totally unacceptable. The gym staff called security," an onlooker was reported saying.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "It is too early to comment in detail on a matter that is currently the subject of police enquiries. But we take extremely seriously any allegation of inappropriate conduct on the part of our staff and continue to follow developments closely."

According to the Daily Mail, Laxton has denied his comments were anti-Jewish but refused to answer when asked if they were anti-Israeli.

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