WASHINGTON – Andrew Adler, the owner and publisher of the Jewish weekly Atlanta Jewish Times announced his resignation on Monday after publishing an op-ed in which he suggested that Israel assassinate US President Barack Obama.
Adler decided to step down as editor and handed those authorities to one of his reporters. Meanwhile, CNN reported that the Secret Service has launched an investigation into Adler's activities.
In his column, published last week, Adler laid out what he said were three options available to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in countering the threat posed by Iran's nuclear program.
One of the options was to "give the go-ahead for US-based Mossad agents to take out a president deemed unfriendly to Israel in order for the current vice-president to take his place, and forcefully dictate that the United States' policy includes its helping the Jewish state obliterate its enemies."
The other two options, according to Adler, are to attack Hezbollah and Hamas or defy the US – which he said is willing to let Israel "take a lethal bullet."
According to Adler, who later apologized for his column, Obama has an "Alice in Wonderland" belief in diplomacy over force.
The article sparked outrage among US Jews and a wave of condemnation by Jewish leaders. The Jewish Federation in Atlanta announced it was suspending its ties with Adler's publication as long as he is associated with it and called him to sell the newspaper.
In a statement, the Federation said that the damage caused to the people of Israel, Jews around the world and particularly the Jewish community in Atlanta was irreparable.
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