Oliver Stone, ADL settle their differences

NEW YORK -- Filmmaker Oliver Stone and the Anti-Defamation League have laid their differences to rest.

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Stone on Wednesday sent a letter to the League's national director Abraham Foxman who then issued a statement welcoming Stone's second apology for his comments that had led the League to call him anti-Semitic.

"I believe he now understands the issues and where he was wrong, and this puts an end to the matter," said Foxman.

According to him, Stone had said: "I do agree that it was wrong of me to say that Israel or the pro-Israel lobby is to blame for America's flawed foreign policy. Of course that's not true and I apologize that my inappropriately glib remark has played into that negative stereotype."

Stone also clearly spoke out against anti-Semitism: "I want you to know that I am categorically opposed to anti-Semitism – and all other racist ideologies," Foxman recounted Stone's comment.

Below is the full text of the apology letter that Oliver Stone sent to Foxman:

Dear Mr. Foxman:

I have seen the reports today that you have issued a statement criticizing my apology - for my poor choices of words and the unfortunate and coarse way they were presented by the Times of London - as being insufficient. To be sure, there is a great deal more I could have said, but in an effort to be concise and direct, my apology did not address every element of what I said in the Sunday Times.

I want you to know that I am categorically opposed to anti-Semitism - and all other racist ideologies. I am half-Jewish and therefore personally repelled by anti-Semitism, but moreover, I consider it an important part of my life's work to call attention to the atrocities caused by racist and fascist regimes and policies.

To the specific point of your statement today, I do agree that it was wrong of me to say that Israel or the pro-Israel lobby is to blame for America's flawed foreign policy. Of course that's not true and I apologize that my inappropriately glib remark has played into that negative stereotype.

I do, of course, have strong feelings about the way the United States and Israel have conducted their foreign policies, and I have been openly critical toward both. But I am also a Vietnam Vet and have been proud to serve my country. As I am sure you will concur, disagreeing with our policy or Israel's at any moment in time, makes me neither anti-American nor an anti-Semite. I will, however, be more careful and precise with my words on these matters in the future.

Respectfully,

Oliver Stone