The Hill News

Jewish Republicans had a muted reaction Wednesday to Sarah Palin's accusation that the media manufactured a "blood libel" while covering the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.).

The term "blood libel" refers to historical, false accusations that Jews used the blood of non-Jewish children for religious purposes. Persecutors of the Jews employed a "blood libel" mentality to justify acts of violence against them. Additionally, Giffords is Jewish.

Former Bush White House press secretary Ari Fleischer, a member of the Republican Jewish Coalition's board of directors, did not address Palin's use of the phrase "blood libel" but said she would have been better served by focusing on a more positive message.

{mosads}"I liked much of what she said, but it would have been even better if she simply rose above the accusations about her map and focused entirely on the bigger message of loss, tragedy and the greatness of our country and the s! trength of our people," he told The Hill. "The better way to repudiate the nonsensical charges against her would have been to rise above them."

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