European commissioner accused of 'outrageous anti-Semitism' by Jewish group. Karel De Gucht, the European commissioner for trade, has issued a statement saying that he regrets any offence caused by comments he made about Jews that led to him being accused of anti-Semitism. De Gucht told a Belgian radio station yesterday (2 September) that one should "not underestimate the power of the Jewish lobby on Capitol Hill" in influencing US policy on Middle East peace talks. The EU commissioner and former Belgian foreign minister was asked about his views on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as negotiations were re-launched in Washington, DC. He said it was "not easy" to have "a rational" debate with Jews on the peace process. "It is a very emotional issue," the commissioner said. The European Jewish Congress (EJC) today demanded that De Gucht apologise for his comments. "Once again we hear outrageous anti-Semitism from a senior European official," Moshe Kantor, president of the EJC, said in a statement on the group's website.
Karel De Gucht, the European commissioner for trade, has issued a statement saying that he regrets any offence caused by comments he made about Jews that led to him being accused of anti-Semitism.
De Gucht told a Belgian radio station yesterday (2 September) that one should "not underestimate the power of the Jewish lobby on Capitol Hill" in influencing US policy on Middle East peace talks.
The EU commissioner and former Belgian foreign minister was asked about his views on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process as negotiations were re-launched in Washington, DC. He said it was "not easy" to have "a rational" debate with Jews on the peace process. "It is a very emotional issue," the commissioner said.
The European Jewish Congress (EJC) today demanded that De Gucht apologise for his comments. "Once again we hear outrageous anti-Semitism from a senior European official," Moshe Kantor, president of the EJC, said in a statement on the group's website.
It's hard to fit that into contempt for an ideology.
As for being sorry, why did he say it ? Why did he even think it ? I mean, people say ridiculous and offensive things when they're extremely drunk, but when they're sober they own it. keep to the Fen Causeway
