Atlanta, GA – The owner of a Jewish newspaper in Atlanta has said he deeply regrets writing a column suggesting that Israel consider “a hit” on Barack Obama if he stands in the way of the Jewish state defending itself.
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Andrew Adler told the Guardian he wrote the column in the weekly Atlanta Jewish Times “to get a reaction” from the paper’s readers.
“The headline for the column was: ‘What would you do?’ That’s what I wanted to see,” he said. “It’s got like a Dr Phil reaction: what were you thinking? I feel really bad it did that.”
The column, first brought to light by Gawker, asks readers to imagine that they are the Israeli prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, confronting the threat posed by Hezbollah and Iran’s nuclear programme while also under pressure from a US president with an “Alice in Wonderland” belief in diplomacy over force.
Adler lays out what he says are the three options available to Netanyahu: attack Hezbollah and Hamas; defy the US – which is willing to let “Israel take a lethal bullet” – by striking against Iran’s nuclear facilities; or a third option.
“Three, give the go-ahead for US-based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice-president to take his place, and forcefully dictate that the United States’ policy includes its helping the Jewish state obliterate its enemies,” Adler wrote in a column that appeared in print by not online.
“Yes, you read “three” correctly. Order a hit on a president in order to preserve Israel’s existence. Think about it. If I have thought of this Tom Clancy-type scenario, don’t you think that this almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel’s most inner circles?”
Adler went on to ask: “How far would you go to save a nation comprised of 7 million lives – Jews, Christians and Arabs alike? You have got to believe, like I do, that all options are on the table.”
Adler said he understood why readers might interpret his writing as suggesting that Israel is seriously considering assassinating the US president but that is not what he meant.
“I don’t advocate anything,” Adler said.” “I don’t preach anything. Wasn’t calling for action, anything like that… Do i regret writing it and how I did it? Very much so and I apologize to anyone who took it differently. But in no way shape or form do I support the overthrowing [of the country] in order for Israel to do its thing.”
“No, no, no. It’s unfathomable, unthinkable,” he said, adding: “I’m definitely pro-Israel to the max.”
He says he hasn’t heard from any law enforcement officials or the Secret Service about the column.
But Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie said the agency is “aware” of the incident. “We’re conducting the appropriate investigative steps,” he told FoxNews.com
I suggest they take this yid out and “shoot him”…this is beyond belief. Whether he printed such a statement to stimulate readers, as a joke or was serious, it doesn’t matter. I’d love to see the government put him away for a long time.
Shavua Tov. Disgusting piece of journalism. Irresponsible. He should have kept his thoughts to himself.
it’s a real shame for all Jews in the U.S. that such an Idiot call himself a Jewish News Editor.
it’s real Hisharus Be’umos.
We all Jews in the U.S. have to pray for the Freedom of our Nation and be Glad that we can live here like a Jew. Freedom to our Jewish Religion.
Subscribers to the paper should cancel their subscriptions and advertisers should boycott the paper. This paper should be driven into bankruptcy.
The article is despicable and hurts American-Israeli interests. you can forget about Pollard ever getting out after this despicable article.
Did Ami magazine write the despicable article?
Adler is the epitomy of bigoted arrogance ran amok and a mortal danger to Jews
As much as I despise the actions of our Food Stamp President & I do not believe he was really calling for it sounded like, this person is a moron of the highest caliber.
What a disgusting thing to write, whether you are republican or democrat. What a chillul hashem for a Jew to write anything violent against an officer of our country.
The phrase “Bad for the Jews” is so understated as to be actually dishonest here. This idiot deserves every bit of grief he is getting from the Secret Service and any jail sentence he gets for it. As an editor, even the editor of a stupid little rag like his, he should know that advocating and threatening the assassination of the President is a crime. Worse than that, it gives anti-Semites and Israel-haters every bit of ammunition they could hope for.
His lame non-apology is so transparently bad it makes the whole thing worse.
Here’s hoping Chabad and all Jews roundly condemn this fool.
Hopefully American Jews will never experience the screaming hordes in Vienna, the SA and SS beating and killing Jews and the eerie flames from the chimney in Buchenwald which I exprienced. Adler is the utmost irresponsibiity and idiocy I ever encountered
The so called Editor of that newspaper should be prosecuted for making written threats against the President of the United States; such actions are a federal felony, punishable by many years in a federal prison. In this day and age, the Secret Service is not going to take such threats lightly. Also, all of the various Jewish organizations and community leaders should condemn that individual in the strongest terms.
CNN and many other websites are now being flooded by thousands of anti-Semitic comments saying, We told you so!!!
They are crowing that we now have evidence of the evil Jews and Israel attempting to destroy America by assassinating our president.
Adler, with a few strokes of his computer keyboard, has damaged the standing of American Jews and Israel more than all the Arab propaganda for sixty years.
And Chabad, where he is a congregant, is still silent…..so far.
I hope they arrest the nut job
Chabad needs to speak up loudly and quickly. They should have done it before, but it’s not too late.
My fear is that if they do it will be another passive-aggressive apology along the lines of “I’m sorry the goyim feel this way. It’s too bad they just didn’t understand.”
I stood twice on selection in Lodz, I survived Buchenwald and worked for 40 years in a professional job for the fedeal government. I and other boys had a minyan in Buchenwald. I am now ashamed for being a Jew. G’d forbid, chas v’sholem if there is an attempt on the President dou realize the consequences. I disliked the Neturei Karta but I think they are wise
the aryan nation and other anti semitic groups will have a field day with this.
Does he own the paper if not he should be fired now.
Obama may be naive to think that he can talk negotiate with the Arabs but he still supports Israel with money and weapons
I just cannot believe the sheer, short-sighted, and uttterly undiluted idiocy of this man.
He has given American anti-Semites, of every political color, enough ammunition to last them for the next decade.
Try as one may to ‘dan lekaf hazchut, it is just impossible.
Although one can always say “G-d bless America”, today we have to say “G-d save American Jews” as well.
a. I despise Obama and I think he wouldn’t shed a tear if Israel G-d Forbid will disappear. At the same time, I think the person who wrote that article is a total moron. What a dangerous fool to write such things.
b. To two of the commentators here who appear determined to try to streeeetch this story and use it to smear other people: get a life. Nice try. Talk about being anti something. Wow, you clearly are. Actually, shame on you for that.
Wow… although I consider myself a “rounder” at times and have had a crazy thought or two, I can’t say that any of my crazy thoughts can even hold a candle to this man’s insanity.
He should resign from his position as an editor. The jig is up for him.
Despicable; I’m afraid it’s merely an extension of the often baseless crescendo of frum attacks on the President. These folk cry antisemitism at the drop of a hat, but act like we own the country…nebuch
It’s amazing how low someone will go to get more subscribers!