Jason Greenblatt suggested the accessories worn by United staff “look like a keffiyeh” and may secretly express pro-Palestinian sympathies
A former US envoy to the Middle East, Jason Greenblatt, has accused United Airlines of harboring pro-Palestinian sentiment after remarking that the black and white scarves worn by staff members resemble the traditional Palestinian headscarf.
This latest accusation came just days after Greenblatt joined a campaign to pressure United to fire one of its pilots for social media posts critical of Israel.
The ex-diplomat later retracted his accusation of a hidden meaning behind the scarves, saying he was “too hasty” in claiming the accessories, which featured a plane silhouette pattern, look like the traditional Palestinian keffiyeh.
Greenblatt served in the administration of President Donald Trump and helped seal the Abraham Accords, the treaties establishing Israeli diplomatic and economic relations with several Arab nations.
Former White House ME Envoy Jason Greenblatt expresses panic over black & white scarfs worn by United Airlines workers as they look to him "a lot like a Palestinian Keffiyeh." #US pic.twitter.com/iuulzsafgr
— Tibou رتيبة (@Tibou33969029) November 23, 2023
The first criticism directed at the airline earlier this week stemmed from a complaint by stopantisemitism.org, a self-described “grassroots watchdog organization dedicated to exposing groups and individuals that espouse incitement towards the Jewish people and State.”