Greenblatt speaks out against 'racist rabbis,' Smotrich retaliates

"I regret that you unintentionally aligned yourself with those who wish to harm this great institution," Bezalel Smotrich responded to Jason D. Greenblatt on Twitter.

MAY 2, 2019 15:00

Bezalel Smotrich (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST) — Bezalel Smotrich

(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)

US Special Envoy Jason D. Greenblatt wrote on Twitter on Wednesday following the reports of Eli pre-military school rabbis being recorded discussing the ideas of Nazi party leader Adolf Hitler and racist ideas.

"These outlier comments are disgusting, do not represent Judaism & I condemn them. Hate speech of all forms is vile and as we increasingly see, leads to deadly attacks. We must fight all forms of hatred," Greenblatt wrote.

MK Bezalel Smotrich decided to respond to Greenblatt's statements, and tweeted back at him that "Your recent tweet and aligning with the false campaign against the Eli Mechina was deeply disappointing to me."

1/6Dear Jason,Your recent tweet and aligning with the false campaign against the Eli Mechina was deeply disappointing to me. Since I sincerely greatly respect you, I am confident that if you would have heard the entire lesson<<< https://t.co/S0eItO6o5s
— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) May 2, 2019

2/6and not just the few sentences that were taken out of context by small-minded journalists, you would have understood that there isn’t even the slightest mention of racism.<<<
— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) May 2, 2019

Smotrich claimed that "I am confident that if you would have heard the entire lesson and not just the few sentences that were taken out of context by small-minded journalists, you would have understood that there isn’t even the slightest mention of racism."

4/6Judaism is certainly the most loving religion of the world and of mankind that exists.<<<
— בצלאל סמוטריץ' (@bezalelsm) May 2, 2019

"Judaism is certainly the most loving religion of the world and of mankind that exists," Smotrich continued, and began defending the Eli Mechina, and also responded to Greenblatt that "I regret that you unintentionally aligned yourself with those who wish to harm this great institution."