WASHINGTON (AP)—Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, saying “I have made an error in judgment,” told the Senate Monday that he wants Congress to rescind $8 million to build schools in France for North African Jews.

But Inouye, D-Hawaii, defended his action in supporting the program, which drew widespread criticism from members of Congress, the Reagan administration and civil liberties groups.

Fifteen House members introduced legislation last week that would have blocked the expenditure.

The American Civil Liberties Union and the American Jewish Committee both were looking into the legality of building religious schools abroad. In the United States, such a program would violate the constitutional separation of church and state.

Inouye, in an emotional speech on the Senate floor, said he continued to believe that his actions in pushing for the program were appropriate, and he attacked his critics.

“Never before have I felt the lash of such unjust and unfounded criticism,” he said. “Nonetheless, I have concluded that, if this avalanche of criticism is allowed to continue, this institution—this Senate which I honor and respect—could suffer.”

“I have made an error in judgement,” he declared. “I fear that I have embarrassed my colleagues. I intend to correct that error.”

Inouye said he would “move as quickly as possible” in the Senate to have the appropriation rescinded. He said he also had asked Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., “to place before the House a bill to rescind the $8 million.”

Only a few senators were on the floor when Inouye spoke. But Sen. Mark O. Hatfield, R-Ore., defended Inouye as a “man of complete and total integrity.”

Inouye, chairman of the Senate appropriations committee on foreign operations, backed the program which was included in the State Department’s budget for refugees. It was part of a $600 billion appropriations bill approved by Congress before Christmas.

Inouye’s involvement in the project was first reported by The Associated Press on Dec. 28.

Several members of Congress told The AP they were leery of the $8 million project, but voted for it after Inouye pressed hard for the money.

The American and French governments and the United Nations do not view the 450,000 Jews from North Africa as refugees. Many of them came to France more than a decade ago, and many have prospered.

But Inouye said the Jews from North Africa are refugees. “These unfortunates, these Jews from North Africa, have not been absorbed or assimiliated.”

Inouye said he was disturbed about the implication that he was swayed by a campaign contribution. He said he was “disappointed, hurt and angered by the accusation that I had supported the earmarking because of a $1,000 contribution to my re-election campaign.”

Inouye said he was not aware of the $1,000 contribution and complained of criticism “that I sold my reputation and my honor for a thousand dollars.”

“Never before have I been accused of taking thirty pieces of silver,” he said.

Zev Wolfson, a New York real estate developer, gave Inouye a $1,000 campaign contribution—the maximum for an individual—for his last Senate race in 1986.

Wolfson sits on the board of Ozar Hatorah, the group that was slated to get the $8 million.

He also denied that the money was appropriated in secret.

The Office of Management and Budget, however, released a letter it sent to Inouye before the $8 million was approved, calling the program troublesome.