A few days ago, a news publication reported on a group of Jewish leaders that self-organized to fight antisemitism and expose the crimes that Hamas is committing not just against Israel but also against the Palestinian people and the world. That part is correct. Sadly in today’s era, inflammatory headlines and social media conspiracy theories get unleashed that have no support in facts.
The following facts are accurate and supported by the record:
Building Bridges to Overcome Extremism and Solve Problems Together is My Constant. I founded PeaceWorks Inc. 31 years ago to foster business cooperation among neighbors striving to co-exist in the Middle East. I co-founded the OneVoice Movement with my friend Mohammad Darawshe to help Palestinians and Israelis seize back the agenda for conflict resolution. Most recently, I co-founded the Builders movement to overcome “us vs. them” thinking.
I am proud of standing against all forms of hate and discrimination.
While most of my life that has meant my standing up for other vulnerable groups, Jewish students are now being harassed (called Nazis and encircled); prevented from going to classes and receiving their education; and told they cannot access public spaces because they are Jewish or Israeli.
This is a deliberate strategy from extremist groups that borrow dehumanization tactics from the most shameful periods in history – from when Blacks were not allowed to drink from the same water fountain in our own country just a few decades ago to when Jews were blocked from going to school in Germany and Austria in the 1930s and eventually degraded enough to allow Hitler to send them to death camps. This form of extremism, along with burning American flags or denying Israel’s right to exist, doesn’t just harm Jews and Israelis. It also harms Muslims and Palestinians that quest for peace and get painted negatively by radicals who purport to represent them.
Just as I would condemn hate & discrimination against anyone (Muslim, Christian or Jewish, Black, Brown or White) it is my — and everyone’s — responsibility to stand firmly against those who are bullying and systematically trying to stigmatize Jewish students.
A reporter that had access to thousands of posts from our group could not produce a single one that would substantiate any extremist accusations. Not only that, but the reporter deliberately avoided posts spotlighting cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, and efforts to build bridges with other communities to fight extremism and all forms of hate.
NY Mayor Eric Adams spoke forcefully against antisemitism. Our community is grateful for his moral clarity and courage. We will show our appreciation and loyalty to him and all those that stand against all forms of hate. No amount of bullying or intimidation will make us cower. The opposite. Now more than ever, we will form alliances against all forms of hate, including hate against Jews.her communities to fight extremism and all forms of hate.
The following facts are accurate and supported by the record:
Building Bridges to Overcome Extremism and Solve Problems Together is My Constant. I founded PeaceWorks Inc. 31 years ago to foster business cooperation among neighbors striving to co-exist in the Middle East. I co-founded the OneVoice Movement with my friend Mohammad Darawshe to help Palestinians and Israelis seize back the agenda for conflict resolution. Most recently, I co-founded the Builders movement to overcome “us vs. them” thinking.
I am proud of standing against all forms of hate and discrimination.
While most of my life that has meant my standing up for other vulnerable groups, Jewish students are now being harassed (called Nazis and encircled); prevented from going to classes and receiving their education; and told they cannot access public spaces because they are Jewish or Israeli.
This is a deliberate strategy from extremist groups that borrow dehumanization tactics from the most shameful periods in history – from when Blacks were not allowed to drink from the same water fountain in our own country just a few decades ago to when Jews were blocked from going to school in Germany and Austria in the 1930s and eventually degraded enough to allow Hitler to send them to death camps. This form of extremism, along with burning American flags or denying Israel’s right to exist, doesn’t just harm Jews and Israelis. It also harms Muslims and Palestinians that quest for peace and get painted negatively by radicals who purport to represent them.
Just as I would condemn hate & discrimination against anyone (Muslim, Christian or Jewish, Black, Brown or White) it is my — and everyone’s — responsibility to stand firmly against those who are bullying and systematically trying to stigmatize Jewish students.
A reporter that had access to thousands of posts from our group could not produce a single one that would substantiate any extremist accusations. Not only that, but the reporter deliberately avoided posts spotlighting cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, and efforts to build bridges with other communities to fight extremism and all forms of hate.
NY Mayor Eric Adams spoke forcefully against antisemitism. Our community is grateful for his moral clarity and courage. We will show our appreciation and loyalty to him and all those that stand against all forms of hate. No amount of bullying or intimidation will make us cower. The opposite. Now more than ever, we will form alliances against all forms of hate, including hate against Jews.her communities to fight extremism and all forms of hate.
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