“ ‘THE DEATH OF KLINGHOFFER’ FUELS HATRED AND IS UNFIT FOR NEW YORKERS”

“TAX DOLLARS SHOULDN’T SUPPORT EVENTS THAT GLORIFY HATRED AND VIOLENCE”

Assemblyman Dov Hikind (D-Brooklyn) expressed his outrage over The Metropolitan Opera’s production of “The Death of Klinghoffer” which is clearly both anti-Semitic and pro-terrorism. The Assemblyman is calling for an end to New York State and New York City funding to the Met and asking his colleagues in the NY State Legislature and NY City Council to support these cuts. Over the last 15 years, the Met received nearly $3 million from New York State and $500K in 2012 from New York City.

“The United States is battling terrorism in the Middle East and incidents of anti-Semitism are on the rise,” Assemblyman Hikind pointed out. “Statistics have shown an alarming growth of anti-Semitism not only globally but also right here in New York. How can the Metropolitan Opera see fit to stage a performance that fuels the fires of anti-Semitism, a performance that romanticizes and glorifies terrorists? I’m beyond shocked. This is an insensitive, morally bankrupt act that hurts everyone. I don’t want my tax dollars being used to support anti-Semitism and terror.”

Assemblyman Hikind noted that the Met would never dare stage a performance that casts derision upon another ethnic group or religion. “Everyone is politically correct when it comes to other races and religions, but somehow attacking Jews should be tolerated? I don’t think so.”

The Assemblyman pointed out how, amid escalating fears of anti-Semitism, the Metropolitan Opera cancelled plans to transmit a performance of “The Death of Klinghoffer” to movie screens. Met General Manager Peter Gelb admitted that he had “become convinced that there is genuine concern in the international Jewish community that the live transmission of ‘The Death of Klinghoffer’ would be inappropriate at this time of rising anti-Semitism, particularly in Europe.”

“This performance is unfit for Europeans but it’s fit for New Yorkers?” asks Hikind. “The Met clearly understands that this performance fuels the fires of anti-Semitism. We don’t need Jew hatred in New York any more than they need it in Europe.”

The work is about the 1985 death of 69-year-old disabled Brooklynite who was murdered and tossed overboard by Palestinian hijackers of the cruise ship Achille Lauro in a plot masterminded by Palestinian terrorist Abu Abbas.

Assemblyman Hikind noted that the family of Leon Klinghoffer has suffered enough and is now suffering even more by the staging of this performance in New York.

Assemblyman Hikind will speak this Monday, Sept. 22, at a rally to protest the Metropolitan Opera’s gala opening of “The Death of Klinghoffer.” Other scheduled speakers include former U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey, New York Board of Rabbis Executive VP Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, Catholic League boss Bill Donahue, and Zionist Organization of America president Morton Klein. The event will take place across the street from Lincoln Center Plaza on Columbus Ave and 65th St. beginning at 4 p.m.

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