Christmas trees that were removed from Seattle international airport to satisfy a rabbi who wanted an electric menorah next to the trees are being reinstalled.

Airport officials said the holiday trees are coming back, following the national controversy that sparked this weekend in Seattle after a rabbi complained about airport Christmas trees.

After the trees have been removed in response to his request to include a giant Menorah in the airport's holiday decorations, Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky has received hate mail and angry phone calls, his lawyer said as quoted by Reuters.

Bogomilsky's intention to have the trees removed was misunderstood, and the rabbi was "saddened" by the airport's decision to remove all holiday decorations instead of including the Menorah for Hanukkah.

Seattle airport officials said the trees were removed to avoid litigation with a religious group.

"The airport is not a traditional public forum and it would not be appropriate for such a ceremony, so we made the decision to remove the trees to allow the airport staff to focus on the busy travel season," Seattle airport said in a Web site statement.