It is traditional for employers, organizations and businesses to distribute ‘shai l’chag’, gifts to employees and colleagues before Pesach and Rosh Hashanah in Israel. The American Embassy in Tel Aviv is one of those organizations which feels it is politically correct to send gift packages ahead of Rosh Hashanah in the holiday spirit.
In this case however, the good intentions led to a faux pas which has embassy officials falling all over themselves apologizing for the gift basket included a bottle of cabernet sauvignon wine from the Zion Winery located in Mishor Adumim, the industrial area of Maale Adumim, which in the eyes of the international community is in the “Israeli occupied West Bank.
When recipients such as Peace Now received the well-intended holiday gift package, needless to say it left them with a bad taste to put it mildly, seeing West Bank settler wine in their holiday basket.
It did not take long for the embassy to realize their holiday packages were in fact not politically correct but the contrary, leading to explanations and apologies. Embassy officials explain (1) the packages were bought prepared, ‘as is’ and they did not select the wine, (2) the inclusion of the Zion wine does not in any way signal a change in US foreign policy.
It is reported that Peace Now officials are accepting the explanation, which leaves one wondering if someone there will drink the wine.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Is that the secular diplomatic equivalent of accidentally giving somebody shmita wine?
As an American, I am ashamed that the embassy felt it necessary to apologize to a bunch of traitors.
If these chazerim don’t want the wine, I am sure plenty of grateful people can be found to relieve them of it.
BTW since some of the best Israeli wines come from the Golan, why weren’t they included in the package?