Ex-US diplomat demands more dead Palestinian children in Islamophobic rant: Analysis

A former senior US official is facing backlash after harassing a food vendor in New York. Stuart Seldowitz, who previously served as deputy director of the United States Department of State’s Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs, was captured on video taunting and threatening the vendor in Manhattan. The incident occurred amid an apparent argument over the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

In the video, Seldowitz is seen berating the halal food cart vendor and making offensive remarks. He declares that more Palestinian children should die and refers to Prophet Mohammed as a rapist. Seldowitz also threatens to use his government connections to mobilize Egypt’s secret police against the vendor, whom he accuses of being a terrorist.

The vendor repeatedly asks Seldowitz to leave and claims not to speak English. Seldowitz mocks this lack of English fluency and suggests that the vendor should learn the language to prepare for deportation back to Egypt.

Seldowitz had a distinguished career with the State Department from 1999 to 2003 and also served on the National Security Council under President Barack Obama. He later became the foreign affairs chair at New York lobbying firm Gotham Government Relations. However, the firm has since severed all ties with Seldowitz after the incident.

In an interview with The New York Times, Seldowitz admitted to getting angry with the vendor and regretted the offensive things he said. He claimed that the vendor had provoked him by expressing sympathies for the Palestinian group Hamas, although there is no evidence of this in the videos.

Gotham Government Relations CEO David Schwartz expressed personal outrage and offense at Seldowitz’s behavior and offered to provide pro bono legal representation to the food vendor.

This incident highlights the escalating tensions surrounding the war in Gaza, and it reflects the larger global and domestic divisions on the issue. Pro-Israel and pro-Palestine demonstrations have been held in New York, a city with significant Muslim and Jewish populations, since October 7.

(Source: News article on former US official harassing food vendor in New York sparks backlash and highlights tensions over Gaza war)
Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/22/ex-us-diplomat-goes-on-islamophobic-rant-wishes-more-dead-palestinian-kids