A high-ranking member of the Israeli government has come under fire for what some believe is criticism of American Jews.

During an interview with the i24News network, Israel's Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely appeared to criticize American Jews who never sent their children to the military.

"Most of the Jews don't have children serving as soldiers, going to Marines, going to Afghanistan, Iraq," she said. "They have a convenient life. They don't know what it's like to be attacked by rockets."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the remarks.

"Diaspora Jews are dear to us and are an inseparable part of our people," Netanyahu said. "There is no room for such an attack, and its words do not reflect the position of the state of Israel."

Rabbi Anchelle Perl of Chabad in Mineola says many of his family members have served in the United States military, and Hotovely should be careful before criticizing anybody.

"The Jewish people here in the U.S. have always served well, in all the forces in time of need, and we deeply appreciate the U.S.," Perl says. "Especially here on Thanksgiving Day."