Arab American Pulled From Election Ticket

Members of a county Democratic Party pulled an Arab American candidate from their election ticket amid a furor over comments he made four years ago that some interpreted as sympathetic to Palestinian suicide bombers.

At the urging of state party leaders, including Gov. Jon Corzine and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, Passaic County Democrats withdrew its endorsement of Sami Merhi for a position on the county’s legislative body. Merhi said he felt shocked and betrayed by the decision.

At a 2002 fundraiser, the Lebanese-born Merhi condemned the Sept. 11 terrorists “as cold-blooded murders” and “crazy fanatics.” When asked to apply the same label to Palestinian suicide bombers, he said: “I can’t see the comparison.”