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Posted on 01/11/2004 2:19:17 AM PST by eclectic
Settler leader Adi Mintz sent an apology letter Thursday to US Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer explaining that he regretted calling him a yehudon (little Jewboy) in an interview he gave to the Shas movement newsletter From Day to Day.
"I wrote a letter in which I told him that I didn't mean to insult him personally," said Mintz, who is the director-general for the Council of Jewish Communities of Judea, Samaria, and the Gaza Strip.
He added that he had not meant to hurt Kurtzer.
Mintz told The Jerusalem Post the use of the word yehudon was also unfortunate in that it turned attention away from his contention that Kurtzer is acting improperly as a diplomat by "pushing forward his own agenda."
In an interview with Channel 1, Mintz said that Kurtzer has not acted as a diplomat when it comes to dealing with the territories.
He accused Kurtzer of belonging to left-wing activist group Peace Now and for passing on its material and reports to the United States government. He said he was also upset that Kurtzer is giving speeches questioning the legitimacy of the settlements in the territories.
"If a man like Kurtzer wants to be active in Israeli politics, he should move here. He will likely be elected to the Knesset from Meretz or another similar party, and will act within Israel politics."
The Anti-Defamation League's Israel office issued a statement protesting Mintz's use of the slur.
"Ambassador Dan Kurtzer is a professional diplomat who represents the United States with honor and dignity. While Adi Mintz has every right to have his own opinions about the ambassador and voice them in any forum he chooses, we believe that in using such derogatory, inappropriate language he demeans both himself and the movement he represents. Mr. Mintz should be aware that using such language perpetuates stereotypes and hateful images of all the Jewish people."
Former justice minister and Geneva Accord architect Yossi Beilin, apologized "on behalf of Israel" for the use of an anti-Semitic slur against Kurtzer while speaking to Sen. William Nelson (D-Fla) during a meeting on Thursday.
It is not the first time Mintz has attacked Kurtzer. In 2002, he threatened to ask the United States government to recall Kurtzer if he did not stop speaking against the settlements.
Also in 2002, Yisrael Beiteinu MK Zvi Hendel called Kurtzer a yehudon after the ambassador made similar comments, and said he wanted him censored.
Unless Kurtzer is a gentile, in which case it's that much weirder.
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