The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) Tuesday called for the immediate dismissal of US Ambassador to Belgium Howard Gutman after he stated last week that Muslim hatred for Jews stems from the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
ZOA National President Morton A. Klein condemned the ambassador comments made at a conference on anti-Semitism in Brussels and said, "It is unacceptable for a US diplomat appointed by the President to categorize some anti-Semitic acts in Europe as being truly reprehensible, and others as more understandable because they supposedly stem from a hatred of Jews based on the Arab war against Israel and the Jewish people."
"It is appalling that he makes any excuse or rationale for Muslim anti-Semitism. Muslim anti-Semitism existed before the Jewish State of Israel was reestablished. The fact that he is a Jew does not forgive this shameful act. He is wrong on both the situation in Europe today, and on the history," he added.
"Ambassador Gutman should be removed from his post without delay."
ZOA noted that Gutman's comments drew a tepid response from the White House on Saturday, which distanced itself from its envoy, but did not overtly criticize Gutman.
"We condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms. There is never any justification for prejudice against the Jewish people or Israel," it said in a statement.
Daniel Pollak, Co-Director of Government Relations for the ZOA, said, "The Ambassador's speech included a pre-emptive apology for disturbing the sensibilities of the mostly Jewish audience. He cited the stabbing of a Belgian Jewish Student by a Moslem schoolmate and the case of noted Belgian neurosurgeon, who was forced to sever ties with a university because of anti-Jewish acts. But the good Moslems of Belgium can't be anti-Semitic, we are told, because they gave the Ambassador a standing ovation when he mentioned President Obama's speech to the Islamic world in Cairo."
He added "This incredibly naïve political appointee believes that once the Arab-Israeli dispute is solved, anti-Jewish sentiment in Belgium 'would clearly abate.' This is not a man who should be representing the United States anywhere."
On Sunday, Ambassador Gutman expressed regrets that his words at the Brussels conference "have been misinterpreted."
"I strongly condemn anti-Semitism in all its forms and deeply regret that my words were misinterpreted," Gutman, the son of a Polish Jew who survived the Holocaust, said.
"My personal history and the history of my family testify to the importance I attach to this subject and my unwavering commitment to fight anti-Semitism," he added.