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St. Paul Mayor Meets With Islamic Activists
Washington (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - On Wednesday, St. Paul, Minnesota, Mayor Norm Coleman met with three Islamic activists in his office in order to address their concerns regarding his recent trip to Israel.
Coleman said that his trip’s purpose was to determine whether Israel is a safe place for tourists to vacation or not, and to show support for the Israels largest cities’ mayors.
Coleman commented, “The three cities were pleasant and calm despite the violence elsewhere.”
During the meeting, Coleman refused a suggestion from the three Islamic representatives to meet with a larger group of Muslims.
He said, “I would be thrilled to meet with the Muslim community about St. Paul issues, I’m not going to continue to have discussions about my trip to Israel. We don’t have to talk about American-Israeli relations. That’s not my job.”
Damon Drake, Outreach Director for the Minnesota chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), expressed his disappointment on Coleman’s refusal to meet with a larger Muslim group to discuss Israeli crimes and abuses of human rights with him.
“He went there [to Israel] with one opinion, he talked to people with that opinion, and he left with that opinion,” said Damon .
“I do believe in the right of Israel to exist,” said Coleman, who is Jewish. “They [Muslims] disagree.”
Coleman’s meeting with Islamic activists came after a Monday news conference at which Muslim spokesmen expressed their displeasure concerning his four-day visit to the Jewish state without meeting Palestinians there.
Coleman’s trip, that included meetings with Israel’s President, and mayors of Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Haifa, was supported in a statement issued Monday by the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.
Three officials of the Jewish Community Council are now visiting Israel as show of solidarity with the state. They left Sunday and will return Friday.
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