MONTREAL - A small-town Quebec mayor who made anti-Israel remarks is defending himself against critics who say he should resign.
Stephane Gendron says he's sorry if he offended anyone when he called Israel an apartheid state that doesn't deserve to exist.
Reading from a statement today, the Huntingdon, Que., mayor said Jews indeed have a right to form a state.
However, he says he also has the right to denounce Israeli government policies concerning Palestinians and that doesn't make him an anti-Semite.
Gendron says what he wants is to see Palestinians and Israelis living side-by-side, in peace. Now the mayor says he doesn't want to talk about the issue anymore.
Members of the Jewish Defence League had been picketing outside his office, demanding his resignation or removal from office.
Gendron made his initial remarks during an exchange on TV, where he is also a talk-show host.
He said today that the rapid-fire format of the show didn't allow him to properly express his full opinion.
© The Canadian Press, 2012