Jewish organizations located on the left side of the political map in the US are exerting pressure on the US administration to prevent the visit of Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich planned immediately after the holiday of Purim. Although he has already apologized for his words about Havara three times since they were said, the storm following them has not yet subsided to such an extent There are those who want to prevent his arrival in the US.
It should be noted that the reports that the American government is considering the requests - have not been verified and also that there are very low chances that this will indeed be the case.
Wage increases and shortening of the work week: Finance Minister Smotrich and Histadrut Chairman Bar David announced public sector reform // Photo: Histadrut
"repulsive" things
Smotrich is expected to fly to the USA soon to participate in a conference of the bonds that sell bonds of the Israeli government to Jews in the Diaspora in cooperation with the Ministry of Finance. A spokesperson for the American State Department called the remarks "repugnant" and last weekend added another no less severe condemnation in his wording.
The American ambassador to Israel Tom Neides said in closed conversations according to a publication on News 12 over the weekend that Smotrich is "stupid" and added "he has a flight to the USA with Danny Neve and if I could I would throw him off the plane." The US Embassy in Israel denied the things that were attributed to the ambassador, but it should be noted that this is a serious statement in itself on behalf of a senior American official about a senior member of the Israeli government whose like has never been remembered.
American Ambassador Tom Neides (archive), photo: Oren Ben Hakon
These words were joined at the weekend by Jewish leaders in the US who signed a joint statement in which they requested that he not be given a stage in the Jewish communities during his visit. of Bezalel Smotrich in the US later this month," the customs said, adding that "we call on all pro-Israeli Americans to understand that accepting him here will hurt rather than help support for Israel."
The ISRAEL POLICY FORUM's statement also states that "We reject the notion that honor should be given to someone simply because of his position in the Israeli government. His presence in the US to appeal mainly to Jewish audiences would be an injury to the values of American Jews.
He should not be given a platform in our community, all the more in light of his recent comments about Hvara."
Liked the post calling for the village to be deleted and then retracted it.
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Already last week, the J Street organization in the USA sought to prevent Smotrich's entry into the USA due to his words about Hvara and claiming that this was incitement.
As mentioned, according to the estimates, the chances that the organization's request will be accepted are slim.
Earlier this evening, the Minister of Finance said in an interview with "Meet the Press" on Bequest 12 that his words were said in a storm of emotions.
"Whoever is able to attribute to me an intention to wipe out the village - that's his feverish mind. The intention is that we need to be more proactive and aggressive in the fight against terrorism because people here are being murdered. It could be that the words were said in a storm of emotions, I tripped over my tongue."
The minister also said that "I issued a very clear clarification on this matter, I am ashamed that I even have to clarify. Anyone who is able to attribute these things to me or others in the State of Israel is a fevered mind. Even today I am in a storm of emotions because we are burying people close to us, and it is difficult for us. I may have been wrong in using this word, but there are those who are working hard to try to blacken us, there is a campaign against me. I first of all ask our friends overseas not to judge us because we are in an impossible situation."
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