Current:Home > MyTunisian president’s remarks on Storm Daniel have been denounced as antisemitic and prompt an uproar-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Tunisian president’s remarks on Storm Daniel have been denounced as antisemitic and prompt an uproar
View Date:2024-12-23 16:03:36
TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) — Tunisian President Kais Saied ’s remarks about Storm Daniel have been denounced as antisemitic, prompting an uproar on Tuesday on social media platforms across the world following floods that devastated a Libyan city.
Speaking during a government meeting on Monday, Saied pointed to the name Daniel, which was chosen for the storm, making the link with the name of a Hebrew prophet, in a video broadcast overnight on the Tunisian presidency’s social media.
“Didn’t anyone wonder why the name Daniel was chosen?” Saied asked, adding: “Because the Zionist movement has infiltrated minds and thinking, we’ve fallen into a cognitive coma.”
The storm destroyed entire neighborhoods in the Libyan city of Derna, killing thousands of people.
Names of storms are chosen by meteorological authorities through a alphabetical list alternating female and male easy-to-remember names. Daniel is a very common name across the world.
Many scholars and human rights advocates denounced the remarks on social media.
The U.S.-based Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights organization, “strongly” condemned Saied’s words as antisemitic comments that “resonate with some of the worst conspiracy theories of Jewish control of the weather,” according to a post on X, formerly known as Twitter.
The Union of French Jewish Students tweeted that Saied “reiterated intolerable anti-Semitic comments.”
Saied also suggested that U.S.-sponsored talks to issue normalization agreements between Israel and some Arab states were connected to “Zionists abroad.”
“Normalization for me is a major betrayal. The rights of the Palestinian people must be exercised throughout the entire Palestinian territory,” he said.
In 2021, Saied denied accusations that he made antisemitic remarks while trying to calm youths after days of unrest.
Saied’s statement was in response to allegations by the Conference of European Rabbis that he accused Jews of being responsible “for the instability of the country.” The statement, relayed by some Israeli media, caused an uproar, forcing Saied to address the allegations, which his office firmly denied.
veryGood! (6)
Related
- 1 million migrants in the US rely on temporary protections that Trump could target
- Travis Kelce Reveals Family's Reaction to Taylor Swift's Ballsy NFL Appearance
- Biden's dog, Commander, bites Secret Service staff again
- Mariners pitcher George Kirby struck by baseball thrown by fan from stands
- Deion Sanders addresses trash thrown at team during Colorado's big win at Texas Tech
- Israel strikes militant sites in Gaza as unrest continues, no casualties
- Bipartisan Ohio commission unanimously approves new maps that favor Republican state legislators
- Watch: Rare 'Dumbo' octopus seen during a deep-sea expedition
- Olivia Munn Says She “Barely Knew” John Mulaney When She Got Pregnant With Their Son
- Trump heads to Michigan to compete with Biden for union votes while his GOP challengers debate
Ranking
- North Carolina offers schools $1 million to help take students on field trips
- Rifle manufacturer created by Bushmaster founder goes out of business
- 'Home Town' star Erin Napier shares shirtless photo of Ben Napier, cheering on his fitness journey
- US suspends aid to Gabon after military takeover
- 'He's driving the bus': Jim Harbaugh effect paying dividends for Justin Herbert, Chargers
- Remains found of Colorado woman Suzanne Morphew, who went missing on Mother’s Day 2020
- Baltimore police warn residents about Jason Billingsley, alleged killer that is on the loose
- New Jersey Supreme Court to rule on pandemic-related insurance exclusions
Recommendation
-
‘Heretic’ and Hugh Grant debut with $11 million, but ‘Venom: The Last Dance’ tops box office again
-
Sen. Bob Menendez pleads not guilty to federal charges in bribery case
-
Man with boogaloo ties convicted in shooting death of federal officer during protests over George Floyd killing
-
Save $210 on the Perricone MD Skincare Product Reviewers Call Liquid Gold
-
Horoscopes Today, November 11, 2024
-
Rhode Island community bank to pay $9M to resolve discriminatory lending allegations
-
Bahrain says a third soldier has died after an attack this week by Yemeni rebels on the Saudi border
-
Raiders Pro Bowl DE Chandler Jones says he was hospitalized against his will in Las Vegas