PM's brother-in-law: Obama anti-Semitic
By JPOST.COM STAFF
17/03/2010 11:16
Dr. Hagi Ben-Artzi, the outspoken brother-in-law of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, has accused US President Barack Obama of harboring anti-Semitism which "bursts out now and again.â
Speaking to Army Radio, Ben-Artzi said his brother-in-law was well aware of Obamaâs opinions.
âIt must be stated clearly and simply. Unfortunately, there is an anti-Semitic president in America,â he said. "As a politician, who ran for presidency, he had to hide it, but from time to time, it bursts out from inside. Itâs creating a difficult situation for Israel, but we wonât even consider giving up on our deep interests.â
Ben-Artzi went on to say that it wasnât that Obama wasnât a friend of Netanyahu, he just wasnât a friend of Israel.
âFor 20 years he sat with the preacher Jeremiah Wright, who is anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli,â he said. âWhen an anti-Semitic president comes to power in America, it is our test, and we must say: âWe will not give up. We are a 4,000-year-old people, while you will pass on and disappear in one or two years. Who will remember you? But Jerusalem will always be secure.'"
Ben-Arzi called on Netanyahu to continue along âthe line of the seven prime ministersâ elected since the Six Day War.
âThe moment the Americans tried to get involved with something connected to Jerusalem, we told them one simple word: No!,â he said. âJerusalem in the capital of the Israeli nation and the state of Israel, itâs complete and united. We will not give up on even one millimeter, and if you want make a crisis over that â then make a crisis.â
He said he had spoken to Netanyahu on Tuesday regarding the prime ministerâs sonâs victory in the National Bible Quiz for Youth, which he said was particularly symbolic.
âI told him, âLook how symbolic it is that your son participates and wins the Bible quiz, the subject of which was Jerusalem and its connection to the Israeli people, when you, the father, are facing such a stern test and are required to prove the strength of this connection," said Ben-Artzi.
Netanyahu quickly distanced himself from Ben-Artziâs words.
His office issued a statement saying that it âisnât the first time the prime minister totally disagrees with the remarks of Mr. Ben-Artzi."
Netanyahuâs media adviser Nir Hefez added that Netanyahu said that he was completely opposed to Ben- Artziâs comments, and had a deep appreciation for Obamaâs commitment to Israelâs security.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171188
By JPOST.COM STAFF
17/03/2010 11:16
Dr. Hagi Ben-Artzi, the outspoken brother-in-law of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, has accused US President Barack Obama of harboring anti-Semitism which "bursts out now and again.â
Speaking to Army Radio, Ben-Artzi said his brother-in-law was well aware of Obamaâs opinions.
âIt must be stated clearly and simply. Unfortunately, there is an anti-Semitic president in America,â he said. "As a politician, who ran for presidency, he had to hide it, but from time to time, it bursts out from inside. Itâs creating a difficult situation for Israel, but we wonât even consider giving up on our deep interests.â
Ben-Artzi went on to say that it wasnât that Obama wasnât a friend of Netanyahu, he just wasnât a friend of Israel.
âFor 20 years he sat with the preacher Jeremiah Wright, who is anti-Semitic, anti-Jewish and anti-Israeli,â he said. âWhen an anti-Semitic president comes to power in America, it is our test, and we must say: âWe will not give up. We are a 4,000-year-old people, while you will pass on and disappear in one or two years. Who will remember you? But Jerusalem will always be secure.'"
Ben-Arzi called on Netanyahu to continue along âthe line of the seven prime ministersâ elected since the Six Day War.
âThe moment the Americans tried to get involved with something connected to Jerusalem, we told them one simple word: No!,â he said. âJerusalem in the capital of the Israeli nation and the state of Israel, itâs complete and united. We will not give up on even one millimeter, and if you want make a crisis over that â then make a crisis.â
He said he had spoken to Netanyahu on Tuesday regarding the prime ministerâs sonâs victory in the National Bible Quiz for Youth, which he said was particularly symbolic.
âI told him, âLook how symbolic it is that your son participates and wins the Bible quiz, the subject of which was Jerusalem and its connection to the Israeli people, when you, the father, are facing such a stern test and are required to prove the strength of this connection," said Ben-Artzi.
Netanyahu quickly distanced himself from Ben-Artziâs words.
His office issued a statement saying that it âisnât the first time the prime minister totally disagrees with the remarks of Mr. Ben-Artzi."
Netanyahuâs media adviser Nir Hefez added that Netanyahu said that he was completely opposed to Ben- Artziâs comments, and had a deep appreciation for Obamaâs commitment to Israelâs security.
http://www.jpost.com/Israel/Article.aspx?id=171188
