WORLD : Israel Wants U.N. Officer Removed

Israel today demanded the removal of a Norwegian U.N. commander who compared the expulsion of 79 people from Israeli-controlled territory in south Lebanon to steps Nazis took in World War II.

Lt. Col. J. E. Karlsen, commander of the Norwegian battalion in the U.N. Interim Force in Lebanon made the comparison last week in a private meeting with Israeli officials. His remark was leaked to the press, and Israel’s Foreign Ministry complained at the time. However, the ministry now wants him removed because he was quoted by a newspaper as saying his comparison succeeded in drawing attention to the expulsions, a ministry spokesman said.