AJC Criticizes Ambassador Gutman's Remarks on Muslim anti-Semitism

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Dec 07, 2011, 10:05 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 7, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC expressed concern directly to the U.S. Ambassador to Belgium, Howard Gutman, about his remarks suggesting that Muslim violence against Jews is the result of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Gutman was addressing the European Jewish Union.

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"The historic record shows that Muslim anti-Semitism predates not just Israel's presence in the West Bank and Gaza, but also the creation of the Jewish state itself," wrote AJC Executive Director David Harris in a letter to Ambassador Gutman. Muslim Judeophobia is not a result of the Middle East conflict, but one of its main 'root causes,' fueling Arab rejection of Israel and torpedoing peace efforts to this day."

Harris concluded that Ambassador Gutman's "comments also seem to ignore a basic moral principle, namely, to never rationalize, let alone justify, bigotry or violence against innocents."

The letter was delivered Monday by AJC's Transatlantic Institute in Brussels. The full text of the AJC letter to Ambassador Gutman follows:

December 5, 2011
H.E. Howard Gutman

U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Belgium
Regentlaan 27 Boulevard du Regent
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium

Dear Ambassador Gutman:

It is with great concern that I read your speech last week to the European Jewish Union. Respectfully, your suggestion that Muslim violence against Jews is the "result of the continuing tensions between Israel and the Palestinian territories and other Arab neighbors" confuses cause and effect. The historic record shows that Muslim anti-Semitism predates not just Israel's presence in the West Bank and Gaza, but also the creation of the Jewish state itself. Traditional anti-Semitic themes can be found periodically throughout the annals of Jewish history in Muslim societies, as my wife and her family can amply attest from their own experience in Libya.

The Mufti of Jerusalem, the leader of the Palestinian Arabs in the 1920s and 1930s, spent the war years as Hitler's guest in Berlin, plotting with the Nazis to bring the Holocaust to Palestine. The Mufti's potent mix of violent Jew hatred has unfortunately thrived over the past decades throughout the Arab and Muslim world and underpins the ideology of Hamas, Hezbollah and the Iranian regime. Muslim Judeophobia is not a result of the Middle East conflict, but one of its main "root causes," fueling Arab rejection of Israel and torpedoing peace efforts to this day. Through satellite broadcasts from Hezbollah's Al Manah TV and others, Muslim immigrants living in Europe are exposed to this same vicious anti-Semitism. The violence and intimidation we see today in Europe against Jewish citizens is a consequence of this long-standing indoctrination.

Your comments also seem to ignore a basic moral principle, namely, to never rationalize, let alone justify, bigotry or violence against innocents.

As you know, AJC has had a presence in Brussels—the Transatlantic Institute—since 2004. My colleagues there would appreciate the opportunity to continue this important discussion with you in person at your very earliest convenience.

Sincerely,
David Harris
AJC Executive Director

SOURCE American Jewish Committee