These comments are unacceptable by any reasonable standard and should be condemned. It is right that Seldowitz is now facing charges. Nonetheless, it is only one instance of a much wider issue amid a severe increase of tension in New York City, particularly following pro-Israel and pro-Palestine rallies that have led to an increase in both anti-Semitic, as well as anti-Islam attacks.
It is absolutely right that Seldowitz has been dropped by his firm and is facing criminal charges for the vile things he said. Yes discrimination has become widespread, but the fact that someone once so influential in government has been caught making such remarks raises more serious questions about the commonality of these views among those determining policy at the highest level of governance.