Uproar in the Senate: “His anti-Israel positions are not suitable for the position”

Republican Senator John Curtis from Utah yesterday expressed opposition in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to the appointment of John Carl to the position of US Assistant Secretary of State for International Affairs. The main reason is Carl’s past statements against the people of Israel and Jews in general.

In a statement he published after the nomination hearing, Curtis said: “I believe that his anti-Israel positions and his insensitive statements towards the Jewish people are not appropriate for the position for which he is a candidate.” The White House told Reuters that Karl is still the leading candidate for the job, but that Curtis’ opposition makes his appointment very difficult.

During the hearing, Curtis asked Carl about his past statements regarding Jews, including an appearance on a podcast where he responded in agreement when the host criticized Jews for what he said were “claiming special victim status” in the wake of the Holocaust.

In the debate, Karl said that he does not remember some of the statements read by the senators and that he regrets others. “I made several statements in interviews in which I minimized the effects of the Holocaust, and they were completely wrong.”