All heck broke loose at the Adelson 2016 Primary in Las Vegas yesterday when Chris Christie, the embattled New Jersey governor still immersed in the bridgegate scandal, uttered the words “occupied territory” during an otherwise enrapturing speech in front of the Republican Jewish Coalition.
A hush fell over the crowd. Politico reports that ZOA president Morton Klein was aghast and confronted Christie after the speech and reported the incident to Adelson. (Read Klein’s lecture here.)
And so later, in a private session in Adelson’s office in Venetian Casino where GOP’ers are shuffling in an out this weekend for a slice of his billions, many vying for the presidential anointment, Christie apologized.
Politico’s got the story: Chris Christie apologizes for ‘occupied territories’ remark
Not long after his speech, Christie met with Adelson privately in the casino mogul’s office in the Venetian hotel and casino, which hosted the RJC meeting.
The source told POLITICO that Christie “clarified in the strongest terms possible that his remarks today were not meant to be a statement of policy.”
Instead, the source said, Christie made clear “that he misspoke when he referred to the ‘occupied territories.’ And he conveyed that he is an unwavering friend and committed supporter of Israel, and was sorry for any confusion that came across as a result of the misstatement.”
Oh to be a fly on that wall.
Meanwhile, Politico, in an attempt to educate its readers about the depth of the infraction, goes on to say this:
The term refers to lands in which Palestinians live where Israel maintains a military presence, including the West Bank.
Excuse me? Perhaps Politico is not aware the term refers to lands designated “Occupied Territory” under international law. The US State Department also considers the West Bank occupied. And the UN describes Gaza as occupied, as well. Why? Because it’s under military control. Israel disputing that doesn’t turn it into disputed territory. These are legal terms and cannot be changed at the whim or will of an occupying regime. Maybe Politico is kowtowing too.
More of Politico’s story of the incident:
Christie stepped on a fault line in highly fraught Middle East politics, when he referred to the “occupied territories,” a term Zionists eschew….
Morton Klein, president of the hawkish Zionist Organization of America, was less forgiving. He confronted Christie after his speech about his use of the term, telling POLITICO he explained to the New Jersey governor that “at minimum you should call it disputed territories.”
Klein said he mentioned the issue to Adelson, who promised he’d raise it in private with Christie.
Christie was non-committal, said Klein, who concluded afterwards that the governor “either doesn’t understand the issue at all, or he’s hostile to Israel.”
(Hat tip Icarus Verum)
The elder has his protocol that must be observed.
The remark was public but the apology private (tho reported, and hence public)? What is the public deemed to make of it? Show of Zionist muscle, quite proper, nothing wrong, why’d anyone even mention it? Or — how revolting, cannot call a spade a spade around here!
As Basil Fawlty would say!!!!
“Don,t mention ze occupation”.
Wow. That is truly breath-taking.
Don’t get too excited over this stuff– just keep notes and names for future use.
Every time I see this kind of thing I am tempted to shoot off a mail or make a call lambasting these cretins but that’s really not the thing to do.
We don’t want them to go back underground or keep it private.
Give them all the rope they are willing to take, let them proclaim their fidelity to Israel even more and take their 30 pieces of silver in full view of the public.
When the next elections get going or when the sh@t eventually hits the fan, then you can use it on them.