While many of us have been concerned about, and appalled by the recent Islamophobic ads on NYC subways and buses and have responded to them in a number of different ways, we also recognize that Islamophobia extends far beyond those ads.
As part of our commitment to challenging Islamophobia in all its forms and to bringing these issues to the forefront within the Jewish community, the coalition we are part of, Jews Against Islamophobia (Jews Say No!, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice), wanted to make visible the many manifestations of Islamophobia that we oppose and that we are committed to challenging. We created a short video that highlights the multiple ways Islamophobia is promoted – through police surveillance of the Muslim community, government institutions and policies, and the media as well as through Islamophobic ads in public spaces and demanding that Muslims pass a litmus test declaring their loyalty to the State of Israel before being considered an “acceptable” partner.
Some of us from Jews Against Islamophobia have also been part of initiating a new national network, J-NAI (Jewish Voice for Peace Network Against Islamophobia) that we hope will provide support and resources for those interested in organizing against Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism, and in making the connections between Islamophobia and Israel politics.You can learn more about these efforts at JVP.org/JNAI
We join our partners and allies from the Muslim community and from other communities who are organizing against Islamophobia and for justice and dignity for all our communities.
When will Muslims commit to fighting anti Semitism?
When they see people like us committed to doing the right thing and not lumping all of them together.
The French motto “Tirez les premiers, Messieurs les Anglais”, can be applied to peace, instead of war.
Let’s shoot first with words of peace.
Eolo
So it’s a single edged sward, Jews owe them and they don’t owe anything to us Jews?
I’m felling the love:
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4581262,00.html
Abbas suggest banning Jews from holy site
After holy site sees violent clashes and Hamas political leader calls on Muslims to defend mosque, large rall held in Gaza.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas suggested Jews should be banned from a holy site revered by both Jews and Muslims after hundreds of Palestinians in Gaza participated in a Hamas-organized rally Friday over Jerusalem’s flashpoint al-Aqsa mosque, the scene of recurring clashes between Israeli security forces and Palestinians in recent days.”
I am an American Muslim of Arab-American roots. Throughout my upbringing in Sidon, Lebanon, I was never taught anything bad or hatred toward Jews. I was always reminded through the media and others about Israel’s mistreatment of the Arab (Palestinian) population, both Arab-Israel’s and Palestinians under occupation. To contrast that, when Israel invaded Lebanon in 1982, my own mother complemented the Israeli solders she encountered while traveling from Beirut to the mountains, she told me that they were very nice and respectful to us, they never mistreated us. She compared the Israeli solders with the Syrian solders, who treated the Lebanese population with very abusive behavior. To sum it up, I have a lot of respect for the Israelis in comparison with the other Arab countries. That respect goes so far, until I see what the Israelis are doing to the occupied Palestinians. Even though I respect the Israelis more than I respect the “other” Arabs, I still Israel can do better to show that Jews hold themselves and their values to much higher standards.
This is my true reflection of my views to be shared with you, as I do respect Jews, especially those who do not support aggressor Israel in the killing of thousands of Palestinians, for killing one or two Jews. Please remember 2 wrongs don’t make it right.
Peace, Shalom, and Salam,
Mohamad Alhalabi,
Mohamed, I appreciate you honesty and appreciation for your neighbor in the south. Unfortunately Lebanon suffered through a terrible civil war that both the PLO and Syrians chose to participate in and not abuse and exploitation at the hands of Hizbollah. It is my hope that Lebanon can shake itself form the shackles of violence and live side by side with Israel
Unfortunately the war in Gaza was far more than being about the kidnappings of 3 Israeli teens. It was about the thousands of rockets shot into Israel and the tunneling into Israel. Hamas rejected countless cease fires. Gaza only has a future without Hamas Hamas, like Hezbollah, fights for its now selfish interest, holding innocent civil as hostage.
I wish you peace.