The publisher of a Jewish newspaper who suggested that Israel assassinate Barack Obama in a weekly column, has apologized. Andrew Adler made the controversial statement in the Atlanta Jewish Times, a paper which serves the Jewish community in Atlanta, U.S. He claimed ordering an assassination of President Obama could be one of three ways to protect the people of Israel.

‘Think about it. If I have thought of this Tom Clancy-type scenario, don’t you think that this is almost unfathomable idea has been discussed in Israel’s most inner circles? ‘Another way of putting “three” in perspective goes something like this: How far would you go to save a nation comprised of seven million lives…Jews, Christians and Arabs alike? ‘You have got to believe, like I do, that all options are on the table.’

‘I very much regret it, I wish I hadn’t made reference to it at all,’ he said to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency.’ Mr Adler admitted that he had been an ‘idiot’ for writing it and said he had put his ‘pen in my mouth’, according to ABC.

The secret service has said that Adler’s comments would be followed up but would not say if a formal investigation had been launched.

I guess this guy hasn’t heard of the National Defense Authorization Act.