Pro-Israel Samoa prime minister apologises for Nazi gesture in leaked video
Schmidt has previously voiced his support for Israel and has committed to opening an embassy in Jerusalem by the end of the year
Prime Minister La’auli Leuatea Schmidt said the footage was from a family gathering almost 20 years old and was never meant to see the light of day.
“The footage shows me using the words ‘Heil Hitler’ and participating in a gesture associated with Nazi Germany in a private family gathering – not intended for the public,” he said in a statement.
“Whatever the context or intention at that gathering twenty years ago, I recognise that those words and gesture were inappropriate and capable of causing offence and hurt, and I apologise for using them.”
