One of the criticisms of the Feeling the Hate in Jerusalem video was that the people in it seemed to be from the US, and not “really” Israeli. We can only imagine what the video would have looked like if Max had talked with “real” Israelis. From the Ynet article “Minister utters ethnic slur“:
Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch, who meant to praise an undercover police agent in Tel Aviv, referred to him as an “Arabush” (Hebrew equivalent of “sand nigger”) Tuesday.
Later in the day, the minister’s office said he did not intend to insult anyone by using the derogatory term.
The embarrassing incident took place while Aharonovitch was touring the vicinity of Tel Aviv’s old central bus station, a notoriously crime-ridden neighborhood. The minister met with undercover police agents in the area, and when one of the, apologized for being “a little dirty,” Aharonovitch responded: “Why dirty? You look like a real Arabush.” . . .
Following criticism of the minister’s remark, Aharonovitch’s office issued the following statement: “During a tour the minister met with a police officer wearing dirty clothes, and in a moment of humor, while resorting to slang, he uttered a specific word with no intention to hurt anyone. If anyone was insulted, this certainly was not the intention.”
Thanks to Seham for sending along the article.
