Stuart Seldowitz: Former Obama administration official arrested after video shows Islamophobic language spewed at food vendor
CNNNov 22, 2023
Ex-State Dept. Official Filmed Harassing NYC Street Vendor Arrested
Image copyright: Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images News [via Getty Images]
The Facts
A former US State Department official — identified as Stuart Seldowitz — has been filmed harassing and directing Islamophobic comments at a New York City Upper East Side halal cart vendor on multiple occasions in videos that emerged this week.
Seldowitz, who previously held senior roles in the department's Office of Israel and Palestinian Affairs between 1999 and 2003, as well as in former Pres. Barack Obama's National Security Council, was arrested Wednesday. He faces charges of aggravated harassment, hate crime stalking, stalking causing fear, and stalking at a place of employment.
The Spin
Narrative A
These comments are unacceptable by any reasonable standard and should be condemned. It is right that Seldowitz is now facing charges. Nonetheless, it is only one instance of a much wider issue amid a severe increase of tension in New York City, particularly following pro-Israel and pro-Palestine rallies that have led to an increase in both anti-Semitic, as well as anti-Islam attacks.
Narrative B
It is absolutely right that Seldowitz has been dropped by his firm and is facing criminal charges for the vile things he said. Yes discrimination has become widespread, but the fact that someone once so influential in government has been caught making such remarks raises more serious questions about the commonality of these views among those determining policy at the highest level of governance.
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that Israel will lift the blockade on electricity, food, gasoline and medicine in Gaza by January 2024, according to the Metaculus prediction community.