Hayden Lake, ID, 8/3/06--Mel Gibson extended another "olive branch" to the Jewish community today, asserting unambiguously his recognition of the "truth and dimensions" of the Holocaust.

Gibson specifically expressed sorrow for the "hundreds of Jews" who perished.

Jewish leaders said this was a beginning, but still insufficient, response, and were sobered to learn that Gibson, while seeking dialogue with Jewish leaders, refuses to meet "with Yids."

Gibson has stressed through his publicity machine that he does not want to be seen as anti-semitic "merely because I believe that Jews are responsible for everything bad and evil in the world."

He's taken pains to note that he has "friends and business associates" who are Jews, just prefers not to be reminded of it.

Gibson has been reading about the Holocaust, close aides say, but has privately told friends that conditions on the set of "Braveheart" were "harsher" than conditions in the death camps.