An NBC news article, which claimed on Thursday that the growth of ultra-Orthodox neighborhoods in certain areas of New York state were to blame for the recent uptick in violent anti-Semitism there, has drawn harsh criticism in Israel and the US Jewish community.
"The expansion of hassidic communities in New York's Hudson Valley, the Catskills, and northern New Jersey has led to predictable sparring over new housing development and local political control. It has also led to flare-ups of rhetoric seen by some as anti-Semitic," the NBC report said.
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The article was also picked up by The Associated Press.
Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lior Haiat lambasted NBC for running the article, which implies that Jews were to blame for the recent attacks against them.
The "outrageous NBC New York article blames the Jews for the rising of anti-Semitism in the New York area. Once again, the victim is blamed for the attacker's racism. Instead of explanations and excuses, we need unequivocal action against racism and anti-Semitism," Haiat wrote on Twitter.
An outrageous @NBCNewYork article blames the Jews for the rising of anti-Semitism in the New York area.
Once again, the victim is blamed for the attacker's racism.
Instead of explanations and excuses, we need unequivocal action against #racism and #antiSemitism pic.twitter.com/mllHNNOY9J— Lior Haiat 🇮🇱 (@LiorHaiat) January 2, 2020
