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State Attorney Elliot Withdraws Allegations Against Jews Before Supreme Court

November 6, 1932
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State Attorney L. Elliot today publicly apologized to the Jewish community for his utterances of last week when he declared that the “Jews are necessarily arsonists.”

The apology was made in the Supreme Court in the presence of the chief Justice and Jewish advocates who had been invited to receive the apology.

State Attorney Elliot declared: “I am grieved that certain expressions hurt the susceptibilities of the Jewish Community. I wish to withdraw the statement unreservedly.”

Judge Frumkin, a Jewish jurist, followed Elliot, asserting that Elliot’s asseverations are unprecedented. “I am immensely surprised that such a statement was made by a representative of the crown before the Highest Tribunal in Palestine.”

The Chief Justice expressed satisfaction that the earliest opportunity had been given Elliot to withdraw his statement in the proper manner.

Elliot’s allegations were made in the course of an arson trial in which a Georgian Jew, Turshvili, was involved.

His statement aroused wide resentment and elicited demands for his resignation from leading Jewish organizations.

His apology today was well received.

ing the resignation of L. Elliot, State Attorney for his anti-Semitic utterances last week.

A similar resolution was adopted by the Agudath Israel, both organizations submitting their demands to the government.

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