As diplomatic faux-pas go, it’s a delicate one.
Ahead of the Jewish new year next month, the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv sent gift baskets to a number of Israeli organizations, as it does every year. Among the recipients was Peace Now, a group opposed to Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank.
There was only one problem – among the gifts in the basket was a bottle of wine made in an Israeli settlement.
“I’m sure it was an honest mistake,” said a member of Peace Now, one of several NGOs to receive the basket, emphasizing that the organization did not want to make a fuss about it.
An embassy official confirmed the baskets had been sent out, saying they were purchased from a vendor who put together the contents, which were not checked before distribution.
“This should in no way be interpreted as a change of our policy on settlements, which is long-standing and clear,” the official said.
Faux-pas or not, you can’t blame them.
