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Answer
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Name
Ali
-
Profession
Question
What can american muslims do to help our brothers and sisters in plaestine?
Answer
Bro. Abdul-Wahab: American Muslims are living in very important and strategic country that will decide the destiny of Palestine. They have been working to empower themselves politically, so they can tell the story of Palestine. I believe they have been making headway in reaching out to the media and politicians, with accurate information. They can help out with public relations to get the information out as well. We need to help the administration understand the issues of Palestine, coming from the interest of the United States and that they should have an even handed policy.
With the latest visit of Sharon, this is one of the few times that the Muslims have demonstrated the true past and presence of Sharon, they did their best to expose him as a war criminal. Such organizations as CAIR, have purchased ads in Washington Times, to ask Kofi Anan for war tribunal for Israel, like Bosnia had, this is for Sharon’s many crimes against humanity, which Sharon has conducted , of the massacres that stands out in the mind of Americans is that of the children from Dearborn, Michigan who were killed while visiting their g-parents, the massacre of Qibya, Kufur, Qasiym, Dar Yasin, where hundreds of people were killed. Thousands of innocent lost their lives, at least 25.000 people were massacre under Sharon at
So American Muslims, a people of conscious, play a critical role in bring these to the mind of Americans and asking for a change in U.s. policy.
Nihad Awad: I couldn’t agree more with Bro. Abdul-Wahab. IF WE are to help our Muslims in Palestine we must look short term and long term. In the short term we should take shat Bro. Abdul-Wahab said and make it a road map. I would like to add, there is letter circulating in the House of Representatives, which is a dear colleague letter , which is signed by the two most powerful men on the committee for international relations, The Chairman, Henry hide and the ranking democratic member Tom lentos. This is a letter going to every member of the House, asking them all to sign on to a letter, to President Bush, urging him to REASSES the U.S. relationship with the Palestinians. Put They blame on the blame on the Palestinians for the “Violence” and the Israeli are the victors
We urge all Americans to call their rep., And not to sign the letter. If you don’t know who that is log on to www.amc.org and click on to contact your Rep.
In the long term American Muslims need to be more empowered as a strong segment of American society. We need to participate, we need to contribute, to vote and we need to get elected. So we can become a part of the national discourse, with in the United States, and abroad.
Name
Saladin
- United States
Profession
Question
As'salaam a'laikum,
Sharon's visit seems to have been simply a Palestinian bashing campaign, with the U.S. backing Sharon's statements that Palestinians must cease the violence. Why does not anyone in the administration recognize and accept Israeli terror?
Answer
Nihad Awad: Bro Saladin, Last Monday evening along with a local Masjid organized a rally in from of the Washington Hilton, where APAC, was having it national convention. Hundreds of people participated in the rally and Al-hamdulillah we go our message across. However, we have to understand the goliath we are facing in the pro-Israeli lobby. In that APAC convention, in that same evening, it took over 20 minutes, just to read the names of the senators and representatives of the United States, who were in attendance. The pro-Israeli lobby is a powerful lobby, with one clear message, to support Israel. The American Muslim Organizations have come a long way in the last ten years of political activism, but we still have a long way to go.
Bro. Abdul-Wahab: Things are changing in the U.S. More people notice the brutal nature of Israel and that they are a strategic liability and not an partner. And that Israel is truly to blame for the lack of civility in the Middle East. The need for cutting us aid to Israel, and with out this they can’t be indifferent to the civil and human rights of other people. But those voices are normally silenced and resisted, with the unlimited resources of the pro-Israeli machine have in the United States. Now a day a politicians need a strong political power base to help them, many American politician s don’t believe what they say, but they do what others push them to do with votes and money. After we published the Washington Times ad, asking for a war tribunal against Israel, may Americans, including non-Muslims, have sent in donations and suggestions for our campaign. So in conclusion I say, that some people know the truth but the majority needs to know truth, with the same, of not more, as the Israeli groups.
Name
Sadiyya
-
Profession
Question
How do you perceive the Bush administration's relationship with Sharon? Do you think it will be as supportive of Israel as the Clinton administration?
Answer
Nihad Awad: The relationship so far between the United States and the Israeli government stems from long standing U.S. commitment toward Israel, regardless of who is in power. These positions are usually formulated by the National Security Council, the State Department and Think Tank groups, which supply these suggestions to Congressmen. These Views are made to maintain strategic relations with Israel. The fact that, American-Jews have voted for Gore and Lieberman and not for Bush and Chaney. But still the Bush administration is an extension of the Clinton administration, when it comes to the security of Israel and its military superiority over its neighbors and a formal commitment to the peace process. This is in the absence of a united Arab voice on Israel and the lack of support for the Muslim and Arab presence in the United States, which can help balance the U.S. Policy toward the Middle East and the Muslims.
Name
Hassan
- United States
Profession
Question
Are non-Muslim average joe Americans truly seeing Israel for what it is? Or are we just telling ourselves this to make it seem like we are doing something? And if we are changing joe avreage's views, how can we prove/quantify this?
Answer
Bro. Abdul-Wahab It is apparent and obviously, that Muslim-American influence over the Executive, Legislative branches and the media is a lot better that it had been, lets say, 10 years ago. A clear example is, the way both camps in the 2000 election approached us for support, this was a clear indication of our “growing clout” in the American political process. This is also reflected in media coverage and in our access to congress. However we have a long, long way to go, for our clout to resemble the pro-Israel lobby.
Nihad Awad: The number of Americans, who stand up for justice and see through the images on TV and see the Palestinians plight and see between the lines is growing. We don’t say that the majority is on that level, but the majority has been deceived, for many years, in to believing that Israel is a level oasis of democracy, surrounded by the enemies of “Jews and the West”. It takes effort and patience and perseverance to rectify their perceptions. Lets remember that the American public is open-minded and is very receptive to the truth as it’s told, in a sophisticated way. I believe that Muslims organizations have been improving in this area. They believe that the U.S. public is ultimately an ally for our issues and causes and with that we carry on with our work.
Name
Rafik
-
Profession
Question
What do you think of Congressman Henry Hyde getting support to kick out PLO office from washing and blame Palestinians for bloodshed, what are doing about this?
Answer
Bro. Abdul-Wahab: We just mentioned this, in concerns to The Chairman, Henry Hide and the ranking Democratic member Tom Lentos, who are circulating a letter to other members of congress, asking them to sign on a letter, to President Bush. This is no doubt a response to pressure from the Pro-Israeli lobby. Historically congress has been a lot more flagrant in its support for Israel and that’s where we can work and have more of an effect. Again I urge you and everyone else to contact your representatives. Explain the situation, explain that our interest in the area are being threatened and Americas credibility all over the world is being threatened, exactly because of such biased positions. We can have an effect, and I personally think it is the responsibility of each of us to do that.
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Both our guest would like to thank Islam Online.Net for today’s session and Islam Online.Net would also like to thank both of them for their expertise and analysis.
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