WASHINGTON (JTA) — Louis Farrakhan said the "Israeli lobby controls the government of the United States of America."
In excerpts released by the Anti-Defamation League of his annual Saviours’ Day speech on March 1 in Chicago, the Nation of Islam leader also said Congress was "terrorized" by the lobby and doesn’t "act for the American people that sent you to Congress, but acts for "the money and interests that have bought your soul.”
Farrakhan said Israelis are "liars, thieves, murderers" who have "taken the position of God" and are out to "kill everybody." He also appeared to question the accuracy of Holocaust records.
"You can’t even engage in constructive argument over the veracity of the figures of the Holocaust. We know something happened, sure, but you can’t talk about" it, Farrakhan said. "In certain cities in Europe they arrest you and put you in prison for denying such."
ADL national director Abraham Foxman said the speech was proof Farrakahn had not changed.
"After his near silence on Jews over the last several years, we thought Minister Farrakhan had put his long history of anti-Semitism and racism behind him, or at least had held his views in check," Foxman said. "Apparently that was wishful thinking. Once again he is clearly comfortable with putting his bigotry on display, unfettered and unhidden for his supporters and the world to see.”
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