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A top CUNY official is spreading “antisemitic” conspiracy theories and lies that Israel was in on or welcomed Hamas’ Oct.7, 2023, massacre as a “pretext” to take over the Gaza strip, critics fume.Arthur Cheliotes, 76, the board chairman of CUNY’s School of Labor and Urban Studies, posted an online thread that compared Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler, too.Cheliotes, who was instrumental in founding the CUNY “social justice” Labor School, reposted on Facebook a series of conspiracies and falsehoods under the heading, “What Israel Doesn’t Want You to Know,” and accompanied by a picture of Netanyahu and the Israeli Star of David flag.It says:“1.
Egypt warned Israel — twice.“2.Israel gave Hamas $200 million in cash.“3.
2/3 of IDF Troops were pulled from [the] Gaza border 3 days before.“4.Israel invoked the Hannibal Directive — killing their own to prevent hostage-taking.“5.
Bodies were moved to the music festival.No explanation given.“6.
Border surveillance footage deleted.“7.Lies about ‘beheaded babies and mass rape’ were pushed — none confirmed.”The message then closes with, “They wanted a pretext.
Gaza was the goal.”In another post, the CUNY big — who served as president of the Communication Workers of America Local 1180 for 39 years — shows a picture side by side of Hitler and the Nazi flag in the year 1939 with Netanyahu and the Israeli flag in 2023.A CUNY insider who has known Cheliotes for years was stunned by the posts.“I’m blown away.I’m saddened.
These are bogus conspiracy theories that are at odds with the truth,” the source said.Former longtime City University Board of Trustees Jeffrey Wiesenfeld fumed, “This man is an imbecile and antisemite.”There are legitimate criticisms that Israel’s intelligence and security underestimated the threat from Hamas, Wiesenfeld said.The terrorists’ Oct.
7, 2023 attack caught Israel defenses off guard, slaughtering 1,200 a...