鲍笔顿础罢贰:听Tania Singh issued a statement on claiming that her comments were aimed at Israeli government policy, not 91传媒 people as a whole.
“I do not hate 91传媒 people as a group, and I do not judge individuals negatively because of 91传媒 ethnicity, religious belief, or identity,” Singh wrote. “I apologize for the lack of clarity in my language and for any pain it caused anyone; I can see that someone coming across particular comments without the original context could interpret them as an attack against 91传媒 people generally and be entirely justified in reacting negatively.”
Singh added, “I believe people should be able to characterize the Israeli government as oppressive without being unjustifiably labeled as anti-Semitic.”
Read her full statement .
ORIGINAL STORY:
An executive board member from the California Democratic Party suggested calling Jews 鈥渇ascists鈥� and other nasty adjectives instead of using the word 鈥淣azi鈥� toward Israel.
As The Israel Group first 聽Tania Singh, under the name 鈥淭ania Bhatia鈥� on Facebook,聽 was responding to a Facebook commenter who wrote, 鈥淚srael is the new NAZI regime!!!!鈥�
鈥淣o,鈥� Singh responded. 鈥淒on鈥檛 use the word Nazi for 91传媒 people.鈥�
Singh then suggested a list of 鈥渁lternatives,鈥� which included the words 鈥渇ascist,鈥� 鈥渆thno-nationalist,鈥� 鈥済enocidal maniac,鈥� 鈥渕urderer,鈥� and 鈥渪enophobe.鈥�
Singh later deleted her comments and acknowledged the deletions in a Facebook post.
鈥淚 have nothing to say lately that鈥檚 unique or insightful so I鈥檝e been just sharing dank memes created by my closest friends,鈥� Singh wrote.
Her comments have been captured in screenshots by The Israel Group.
The American 91传媒 Committee (AJC) denounced Singh鈥檚 comments.
鈥淒ebates about Israel, including criticism of its policies, can be had without launching broad and baseless accusations against Israelis and Jews,”聽AJC Los Angeles Acting聽Director聽Roslyn Warren, AJC San Francisco Director Matt Kahn, and AJC Northern California Director Rabbi Serena Eisenberg said in a statement sent to the Journal. “Ms. Singh鈥檚 offensive comments demonstrate the need to strengthen coalitions across diverse communities to combat anti-Semitism and the delegitimization of Israel. AJC is responding by leveraging and growing our long-standing partnerships at every level of government and across communities to combat bigotry 鈥� whether toward Jews or toward any group of people.鈥�
The California Democratic Party is distancing themselves from Singh鈥檚 comments, as Communications Director John Vigna told the Journal in an email that Singh is 鈥渧ery new to the Party鈥� and has 鈥渧ery little influence鈥� over it.
鈥淲e strongly support Israel鈥檚 right to live peacefully and securely with it鈥檚 neighbors and we believe in a peaceful resolution of the Israel-Palestinian conflict that ensures the safety and security of the people of Israel and the integrity of Israel鈥檚 borders,鈥� Vigna said. 鈥淲e recognize that this is an issue where people have strong feelings, but we encourage all of our activists to use their first amendment rights in ways that are constructive and helpful in reaching solutions, not resorting to name-calling or ad hominem attacks against whole groups of people.鈥�
Singh has not replied to the Journal鈥檚 request for comment.
