Europa Press

The newspaper La Jornada
Sunday, September 22, 2024, p. 17

Madrid. Deborah Lipstadt, the special representative of the United States Office against Anti-Semitism, questioned the public stance of Colombian President Gustavo Petro against the Israeli military offensive in Gaza.

President Gustavo Petro’s continued rhetoric normalizes anti-Semitism. We cannot accept it, we cannot tolerate it. We must condemn these harmful narratives. Lipstadt said in a message republished on the social media of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.

Comparing any current action, particularly by Israel, to the systematic annihilation of Nazi death camps is deeply offensive. Legitimate concern for human rights in Gaza must be separated from erroneous and anti-Semitic historical references.Lipstadt argued.

How can this lady call a person who opposes genocide an anti-Semite?Petro replied.

Anti-Semites committed genocides around the world. Jesus of Nazareth was a Palestinian Semite.. Then he posted on X: Madam Ambassador, Palestinians are Semites according to the Bible, since the word Semite designates the descendants of Shem and their language. I am not anti-Semitic, please respect me.said the president.