A British Member of the European Parliament who compared Israel's treatment of the Palestinians to the Nazis' treatment of the Jews during the Holocaust has been formally censured for his remarks, The Jewish Chronicle (JC) reported.
British MEP David Ward said last Friday that he was “saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza.”
Ward, who came under fire from Jewish and non-Jewish organizations and officials, was told to meet with Liberal Democrat officials on Monday.
Following the meeting, Liberal Democrat MEP Alistair Carmichael sent a letter calling on Ward to "confirm the undertaking that you gave to me in our meeting that you will not again use the phrase 'the Jews' in this context", according to the JC.
"I am strongly of the view that your use of the phrase 'the Jews' in this context was unacceptable and I formally censure you for that," said Carmichael.
Ward responded by saying, "I confirm that I am prepared to give you the undertaking that you asked for in our meeting," the newspaper reported.
Ward had previously claimed that he had meant no offense by his remarks, but refused to retract his offensive comments.