Foreign policy experts are confident that Rahm Emanuel will "pressure Israeli leaders" who are reluctant to make concessions to genocidal "partners in peace." Resentful leftist hacks are giddy about how he'll tell right-wing Jews to stick their support for Israel "up their ass." But you know who he won't dare offend? The Arab-American community that was so important to Obama's election:

US President-elect Barack Obama's White House chief of staff apologized to the Arab-American community on Thursday for remarks his Israeli-born father made to Ma'ariv. Last week, Benjamin Emanuel talked about his son Rahm Emanuel's new job and told the Israeli daily that "obviously he'll influence the president to be pro-Israel. Why wouldn't he? What is he, an Arab? He's not going to be mopping floors at the White House." That prompted an outcry from the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, which called on Rahm Emanuel, a former Israeli citizen, to condemn the "unacceptable smear." On Thursday, Rahm Emanuel called the group's president, Mary Rose Oakar, to apologize on behalf of his family... Emanuel spokesman Nick Papas confirmed the phone call and said Emanuel "offered to meet with representatives of the Arab-American community at an appropriate time in the future."

I read those as two separate statements: "of course he's going to be pro-Israel, he's obviously not going to be pro-Arab" and "of course he's going to influence the President, he's obviously not going there to mop floors." But the way the statement is worded is at least closer to racism than what got the last family member thrown under the bus by Obama and his people - which of course was absolutely nothing.

Ah well - Emanuel probably wanted to get the apology out before the ADC tried to sue him into abandoning Israel. Or into rolling back airline security. But in any case: Arab Americans who were worried that Emanuel would ignore their concerns can apparently rest easy.

References:
* Rahm Emanuel and Israel [FP Passport]
* Assad Threatened To Murder Lebanese Parliament Speaker. Plus: Obama Promises To Negotiate With Assad. [MR]
* Noted Democratic Shill Begs Nutroots Not To Viciously Attack Emanuel For Being Too Jewish [MR]
* Emanuel apologizes for dad's Arab remarks [JPost]
* Terrorist Apologist James Zogby: It's Totally Awesome How Democratic Jews Boost Arab-American Political Platforms [MR]
* Throw Grandma Under the Bus [Coulter]
* ADC Will Sue Government to Stop Support for Israel [LGF]
* The Enemy Within [LGF]
* Obama's pick for White House chief unsettles Arabs [Reuters]

Previously:
* No, Obama's People Did Not Meet With Hamas Before The Election
* Hamas Launching Dozens Of Rockets From Palestinian Neighborhoods, Attacking Israeli Troops (Plus: US Announces $14 Million In New Aid)
* MSM Startled That "Post-Partisan" "No-Drama" Candidate Choose Well-Noted Partisan Attack Dog As Chief Of Staff (Plus: Emanuel's Pro-Israel Influence Somewhat Underwhelming)