Abbas Apologizes to 'Jewish People' for Offensive Comments, Condemning Holocaust and anti-Semitism

[DonViejo]

Source: Haaretz



'Abbas is a pathetic Holocaust denier – his apology is not accepted,' Lieberman fires back ■ Palestinian president suggested historical persecution of Jews in Europe was caused by involvement in money-lending

Jack Khoury May 04, 2018 2:25 PM

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas apologized Friday for comments he made last week which were widely decried as anti-Semitic.

"If people were offended by my statement, especially people of the Jewish faith, I apologize to them. 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.

"I would also like to reiterate our long held condemnation of the Holocaust, as the most heinous crime in history, and express our sympathy with its victims," he said.

"Likewise, we condemn anti- Semitism in all its forms, and confirm our commitment to the two- state solution, and to live side by side in peace and security," a statement released in English, Hebrew and Arabic said.


Read more: https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/palestinians/abbas-apologizes-to-jewish-people-we-condemn-anti-semitism-in-all-its-forms-1.6054431

[still_one]

1. While I won't speculate on the sincerity of the Abbas apology, I do not believe that either Abbas or

Netanyahu are particularly trustworthy, sincere, or actually want peace

[DavidDvorkin]

3. Why is that relevant to this news story?

[still_one]

4. So are you suggesting I should not post comments that don't abide by your current constraints?

However I will spell the relevance out to you

Nothing happens in a vacum, and perhaps you were unaware of Prime Minister Netanyahu during his campaign that he would never allow a Palestinian state on his watch.

Why is it relevant, because this is all about the animosity both sides have for each other

[DavidDvorkin]

5. The story is about Abbas's anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial

The vileness of Netanyahu is irrelevant.

[still_one]

6. Abbas's anti-Semitism is all about the hate that centers there. Just so I am NOT misunderstood

I am not condoning or justifying Abbas's anti-Semitism.

This isn't the first time that Abbas has issued anti-semitic and Holocasut denial rhetoric.

What I am saying is the whole situation there breeds hate and contempt among the various parties, and it is not getting better, but worse.

The OP mentions Avigdor Lieberman. Why did they article decide that Lieberman should be the most appropriate person to comment?

The obvious answer is because Lieberman is a controversial figure

I think that everything that occurs there is relavant

and whether we agree or not it will be the Netanyahu's and Abbas's that will be the mindsets that will determine peace or not

[area51]

2. "If people were offended ...."

[Igel]

7. Makes me wish I read Arabic.

To see how this gets reported around the area.