Abbas Apologizes for Virulent Anti-Semitic Speech

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday offered apologies for a speech he delivered last to the Palestinian National Council last week that has been condemned widely around the world as a virulent, anti-Semitic rant. In a written message disseminated by his office on Friday, Abbas said, “If people were offended by my statement in front of the PNC, 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,” he wrote. Among other classic anti-Semitic refrains, Abbas asserted that, “the Jewish issue that had spread against the Jews across Europe was not because of their religion, it was because of usury and banks.” His remarks were so pointed and unambiguous that governments and organizations not accustomed to presenting criticism of the PA in public demanded a retraction by Abbas.