Atlanta Jewish Times Publisher Resigns

The controversial owner and publisher of the The Atlanta Jewish Times resigned on Monday and is putting his newspaper up for sale. 

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency reported Monday afternoon that it received an e-mail from Andrew Adler, an East Cobb resident, to announce that he is "relinquishing all day-to-day activities effective immediately." 

This comes in the wake of his commentary last week suggesting that Israel consider assassinating President Obama as a possible response to Iran acquiring nuclear weapons.

Staff writer John McCurdy has been named the interim managing editor of the Jewish Times, according to the JTA report, which also indicated that Adler would write a final column apologizing for his remarks.

There was no mention of Adler's departure on the Jewish Times website as of mid-afternoon Monday.

The move by Adler came shortly after the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta announced earlier Monday that it had suspended its relationship with Jewish Times and urged that Adler sell the publication. 

In a statement, the federation said Adler's comments were "abhorable" and "irresponsible" and that even though Adler has apologized,"the damage done to the people of Israel, the global Jewish people, and especially the Jewish Community of Atlanta is irreparable."

The story of local, national and global media attention and condemnation from leading Jewish organizations, including the Anti-Defamation League and the American Jewish Committee, as well as the Jerusalem Post, one of Israel's leading newspapers.

CNN reported late Sunday that the U.S. Secret Service was investigating Adler for his anti-Obama comments.