Israeli diplomat says thrown out of Uber for speaking Hebrew

CHICAGO (AP) — An Israeli diplomat says an Uber driver in Chicago yelled and threw him out of the car when he answered a phone call in Hebrew.

Itay Milner is deputy consul general of Israel to the Midwest.

Milner told The Associated Press he was taking the ride-sharing service home Thursday about 5:30 p.m. when he said “How are you?” in Hebrew into his phone. Milner says the driver cursed at him and told him to “get out now.” Milner says the driver told him it was because he was speaking Hebrew.

Uber tells WBBM-TV the driver can’t access the app while it investigates, and that the company won’t tolerate “any form of discrimination.”

Milner says he doesn’t think the driver should be giving rides because he “can’t control his temper.”