Oliver Stone settles spat with Anti-Defamation League
Oliver Stone settles spat with Anti-Defamation League
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Thursday, 29, Jul 2010 09:01
The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has welcomed a second apology from filmmaker Oliver Stone over remarks he made that were perceived to be anti-Semitic.
While promoting his new film South of the Border, Stone had given an interview to the Sunday Times in he which talked of the "Jewish domination of the media" and claimed: "Israel has f***** up United States foreign policy for years."
The ADL had criticised the conspiratorial tone of Stone's remarks and later attacked the wording of his subsequent apology.
However, after the JFK director personally wrote to the ADL's national director Abraham Foxman, the parties have settled their differences.
"I believe he now understands the issues and where he was wrong, and this puts an end to the matter," Mr Foxman told the Hollywood Reporter.
Mr Foxman quoted Stone's letter as saying: "I do agree that it was wrong of me to say that Israel or the pro-Israel lobby is to blame for America's flawed foreign policy. Of course that's not true and I apologize that my inappropriately glib remark has played into that negative stereotype."
The director added: "I want you to know that I am categorically opposed to anti-Semitism - and all other racist ideologies."
The full text of Stone's letter to the ADL's director is as follows:
Dear Mr. Foxman:
I have seen the reports today that you have issued a statement criticizing my apology - for my poor choices of words and the unfortunate and coarse way they were presented by the Times of London - as being insufficient. To be sure, there is a great deal more I could have said, but in an effort to be concise and direct, my apology did not address every element of what I said in the Sunday Times.
I want you to know that I am categorically opposed to anti-Semitism - and all other racist ideologies. I am half-Jewish and therefore personally repelled by anti-Semitism, but moreover, I consider it an important part of my life's work to call attention to the atrocities caused by racist and fascist regimes and policies.
To the specific point of your statement today, I do agree that it was wrong of me to say that Israel or the pro-Israel lobby is to blame for America's flawed foreign policy. Of course that's not true and I apologize that my inappropriately glib remark has played into that negative stereotype.
I do, of course, have strong feelings about the way the United States and Israel have conducted their foreign policies, and I have been openly critical toward both. But I am also a Vietnam Vet and have been proud to serve my country. As I am sure you will concur, disagreeing with our policy or Israel's at any moment in time, makes me neither anti-American nor an anti-Semite. I will, however, be more careful and precise with my words on these matters in the future.
Respectfully,
Oliver Stone