Saeb Erekat, a senior Palestinian Authority (PA) official, said that President Abbas' remarks blaming the Jews for the Holocaust had been taken out of context, Ynet reported. Erekat said he "is surprised at the attack aimed at accusing Abu Mazen of anti-Semitism and of refusing to negotiate, and the president quoted Jewish historians and stressed several times his respect for Judaism, and the problem is with the occupier of our land."