BRUSSELS (EJP)---European Commission President José Manuel Baroso will not sanction Commissioner Karel De Gucht for the comments on Jews he made last week in a radio interview, despite calls that he be fired.
De Gucht, who is Commissioner for Trade, one of the most important position in the 27-member EU Executive body, is accused of anti-Semitism and is facing a new barrage of criticism from various sides after he referred to the power of a “Jewish lobby” on US policy when he was asked about his views on the resumption of Israeli-Palestinian talks in Washington last week.
In the interview, the former Belgian Foreign Minister also said it was difficult to have a “rational” conversation with a moderate Jew on the issues of Israel and the Middle East “because there is a belief among most Jews that they’re right.”
On Tuesday, Maurice Sosnowski, head of CCOJB, the umbrella representative group of Belgian Jewish organizations, said President Barroso should fire his Commissioner. "I consider he is inciting hatred," he told daily Belgian newspaper ‘Le Soir’.
”His declarations which stigmatize the Jews, are anti-Semitic," Sosnowski said.
“These are not humanistic and get together comments one can expect from a European Commissioner," he continued.
EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso "if he has a sense of responsibility about the moral values he stands for, should fire De Gucht immediately," Sosnowski said.
Questioned about the call to Barroso to fire his Commissioner, at the daily press briefing of the European Commission on Wednesday, a spokesman only referred to the institution’s previous statements distancing itself from De Gucht’s remarks and saying they were "personal views" that in no way reflected the position of the EU regarding the Israeli-Palestinian talks and the Middle East peace process.
The spokesman also mentioned the “personal statement” made by De Gucht himself Friday afternoon in which the Commissioner didn’t apologize but explained he did not mean "to cause offense or stigmatize the Jewish Community."
"On the basis of the reassurances given by Mr De Gucht to President Barroso, the president considers that the incident is closed," the spokesman, Olivier Bailly, said.
Last week the European Jewish Congress (EJC) demanded an apology and a full
retraction from De Gucht. "Once again we hear outrageous anti-Semitism from a senior European official," EJC President Moshe Kantor said.
And the New York-based Anti-Defamation League’s director, Abraham Foxman, wrote a letter to Barroso in which he said: "Mr. President, if you believe as we do, that the leaders of Europe have a positive obligation to denounce anti-Semitism whenever it arises, and especially when it occurs at such a high level, we urge you to promptly and clearly condemn Mr. De Gucht’s remarks."
Wall Street Journal Europe calls Commisson reaction 'muted and defensive'
On Monday, the Wall Street Journal Europe published an opinion article in which it deplored the "muted and defensive" reaction of the Commission and of EU’s foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to De Gucht. Ashton, who is also Vice-President of the Commission, defended her colleague, saying she was confident that the Commissioner "did not intend any offense."
""iven that he is the most internationally visible commissioner, will his boss, Commission President José Manuel Barroso, act?,"commented the financial newspaper.
"Brussels was much relieved when President Barack Obama agreed last month to an U.S.-EU summit in November after canceling a meeting in May. If Mr. De Gucht is allowed to stay in his job, perhaps the White House might consider canceling again," it added.