Source: Reuters
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on Friday offered an apology after he was accused of anti-Semitism for suggesting that historic persecution of European Jews had been caused by their conduct, not by their religion.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas gestures during a conference on Jerusalem, in Ramallah in the occupied West Bank April 11, 2018. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman – RC1365D90340
Abbas condemned anti-Semitism and called the Holocaust the “most heinous crime in history” in a statement issued by his office in Ramallah after a four-day meeting of the Palestinian National Council (PNC), at which he had made the remarks.
“If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them,” Abbas said in the statement.
“I would like to assure everyone that it was not my intention to do so, and to reiterate my full respect for the Jewish faith, as well as other monotheistic faiths.”
Categories: Anti-Semitism, Jerusalem, Jewish Faith, Middle East, Palestine, The Muslim Times
Well, my aunt, who was a Swiss national, but married to a German, remained in Germany during the World War 2. (She was a good wife and wanted to be home ‘in case her husband had some leave and would come home from the war). When I questioned her about the reasons why Hitler went against the Jews she answered “Well, he did not really have a choice. The Jews dominated everything, the arts, the legal profession, the banks…”. I suppose this would be considered anti-semitic now. As she is long dead I suppose nothing can happen to her now. (I am NOT against Jews. As I said before Muslims men can even marry them. And do. But we can and should make a difference between Jews as a religious people and Israeli nationals who steal Palestinian land).