Fox News host Jesse Watters
Washington: The rising hate towards Arabs and Muslims across the world, particularly in America, fuelled by popular shows run by right-wing groups amid the Israel attack on Gaza, has prompted a call from the White House to condemn Fox News host Jesse Watters, who runs the show 'The Five,' and seek an apology from him.
Watters ignited the controversy by stating, "If you're an Arab American in this country, and you rip down posters of Jewish hostages, American hostages, no. No, no, no. Someone is going to get punched in the face."
Watters further fuelled the controversy by making sweeping statements about Arab Americans and the Muslim world, asserting that the West, through technological advancements, has played a significant role in creating and enriching the Middle East.
The White House deputy press secretary, Andrew Bates, swiftly condemned Watters' remarks as "unacceptable" and demanded an apology from Fox News, asserting that the comments amounted to a "sickening attack on the rights and dignity of their fellow Americans."
Bates emphasized that such "hateful lies" underscore the urgency of President Biden's efforts to combat hate and discrimination, referencing the administration's commitment to the first national anti-Islamophobia strategy.
The White House spokesperson also drew attention to a tragic incident in Plainfield, Illinois, where a six-year-old Palestinian American child, Wadea Al-Fayoume, was stabbed to death. The alleged perpetrator, the family's landlord, is facing charges of murder and a hate crime.
Bates connected this incident to Watters' remarks, pointing out that the accused, who has pleaded not guilty, listened to conservative talk radio regularly and expressed hatred towards Muslims.
The call for an apology from Fox News comes at a critical time, with Bates highlighting a surge in threats against Muslim and Arab Americans. The statement concluded by asserting that President Biden will consistently stand against Islamophobia, antisemitism, and all forms of hate, urging Fox News to learn from the president's example. Fox News has not yet responded to the request for comment on the controversy.
The broader context of the statement involves the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where Israel claims more than 1,400 people were killed and over 5,400 injured in surprise attacks by Hamas.