President-elect Barack Obama’s White House chief-of-staff Rahm Emanuel has apologised to the US-Arab community for remarks made by his father.
Benjamin Emanuel told an Israeli newspaper that his son, who is Jewish, would “obviously influence the president to be pro-Israel”.
He also referred to Arabs in a way which a leading Arab-American group called an “unacceptable smear”.
A spokesman for Rahm Emanuel said he had called the group to apologise.
Mr Emanuel also offered to meet members of the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.
In the interview last week with the Israeli daily newspaper Ma’ariv, Israeli-born Benjamin Emanuel talked about his son’s new job.
Anger at remarks
He said: “Obviously he’ll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn’t he? What is he, an Arab? He’s not going to be mopping floors at the White House.”
His remarks angered the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which called on Rahm Emanuel to condemn them.
On Thursday, his office issued a statement saying that the veteran Democratic congressman had called the group’s president, Mary Rose Oakar.
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 We cannot allow Arabs and Muslims to be portrayed in these unacceptable terms 
Mary Rose Oakar, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee
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It said that he had “apologised on behalf of his family and offered to meet with representatives of the Arab-American community at an appropriate time in the future”.
On its website, the committee quoted Mr Rahm as saying: “From the fullness of my heart, I personally apologise on behalf of my family and me. These are not the values upon which I was raised or those of my family.”
Ms Oakar welcomed the apology, saying: “We cannot allow Arabs and Muslims to be portrayed in these unacceptable terms.”
Rahm Emanuel served as deputy chief of staff to Bill Clinton and analysts say he has a reputation for forceful negotiation and unwavering loyalty.
As Mr Obama’s chief of staff – and one of his closest advisers – he will be responsible for delivering the president’s policy platform.
Some Middle East commentators have voiced concern about the appointment of Mr Emanuel, who has a pro-Israel record.
However, the congressman himself dismissed the idea and said that Mr Obama did not need his influence to “orientate his policy toward Israel”.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7729046.stm
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