TIMES ONLINE: A senior civil servant is facing the sack today after being found guilty of shouting that Israelis should be “blown off the f***ing earth” while exercising in a gym.
Rowan Laxton, 48, head of the South Asia desk of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was watching a television report about the death of a farmer killed by Israeli bombs when he exclaimed: “F***ing Israelis, f***ing Jews”.
Fellow gym members Gideon Falter and William Lemaine, who were on a lower floor using weights, overheard Laxton, who was on an exercise bike, and complained to staff at the gym.
The incident, which took place at the London Business School gym in January, was described by Laxton’s counsel as a “moment of madness”.
Julian Knowles said: “It is a cliché, but it’s a cliché that fits in this situation.
“It was a moment of madness for Mr Laxton, which is going to have very grave and long-term consequences.”
Mr Falter claimed that he also heard Laxton say: “If I had my way, the f***ing international community should be sent in, and if the Israelis got in the way, they’d be blown off the f***ing earth.”
Laxton denied saying that, however, and told Mr Falter that he was sorry if he had offended him.
Laxton previously told the court that he was embarrassed by what happened and was aware he had embarrassed the Foreign Office.
He said during an earlier hearing: “We are all human. I erred. I don’t normally swear.”
Laxton also said “f***ing despicable” while watching the television report and admitted that it was an “unhelpful and gratuitous comment”. >>> Adam Fresco, Crime Correspondent | Thursday, September 24, 2009
