Writings of a Hamas theologian exemplify classical Islamic anti-Semitism

In an upcoming discussion about explicit Islamic anti-Semitism we will make reference to the following text by Salah al-Khalidi whose work was published in 1991 by the Hamas publishing house. In heaping approbation upon modern-day Jews, the extremist Al-Khalidi draws upon Qur'anic verses that are interpreted to characterize Jews as eternally evil and deserving of eternal humiliation and punishment.

In addition to illustrating the basis of much and arguably most of modern Islamic anti-Semitism, Al-Khalidi's theology demonstrates that the clash between Hamas (along with other religious-based elements in the Middle East) and Israel is religious. This theory of the conflict goes against those who would rather the conflict be seen as simply about borders or conflicting nationalisms. The implications of Hamas being unable to accept permanent peace with a Jewish state -- ever, regardless of boundaries -- has tremendous implications as to the prospects of making peace. //Mark Finkelstein


From "Koranic Facts Regarding the Palestinian Issue” by Salah al-Khalidi. [*Excerpt abstracted from an article by Andrew Bostom to whom appreciation is expressed.]

al-Khalidi: Humiliation is attached to the Jews for their entire lifetime: they were humiliated in Egypt, and when they arrived in [sic] Palestine, and when they were exiled from Palestine, and when they dispersed into the valleys of the earth. What concerns us here—in our discussion of the Jewish character—is to indicate that this humiliation is to be considered as an inveterate Jewish character trait, and a destructive Jewish perversion. Humiliation is one of their historical attributes, a fixed fact of their existence, and a qaa`ida, basis of their life… (Koran 2:61) The Jews are humiliated because they disbelieved in God, killed His prophets, disobeyed His emissaries, transgressed His prohibitions—all of this is humiliation. They are humiliated—and this is why they search out lustful indulgences, and have become their slaves. All of this is humiliation.


It is impossible that the Jews could not be cursed. How could they not be accursed when they are attributed with such degenerate inveterate character traits, twenty of which we have demonstrated above. (Note: Khalidi earlier states, ‘We have extracted from Koran twenty Jewish traits. The Jews are: liars, perverters (of the Text), envious, tricky, fickle, mercurial, sardonic, treacherous, in error, causing others to be in error, merchants, fools, humiliated, dastards, misers, avid for (this) life, disloyal to their firm contracts, rush into sinful aggression, concealers of true evidence, corrupters in the earth, and obstructors in God’s path.’ [For specific Koranic citations confirming his litany see here]. They are worthy of eternal curse because of the villainous traits they display and the corrupt evils they have perpetrated.


The Jews are in a condition of mal`ana, i.e. everyone pours out curses on them; God has cursed them, the angels have cursed them, their prophets have cursed them, the good people among them have cursed them, and everyone has cursed them. They are deserving of this eternal and continual damnation until the day of resurrection when they will encounter God’s wrath, fury, and punishment. They were accordingly exiled from God’s mercy, and kept afar from His goodness.

Many Koranic verses were revealed emphasizing…the judgement upon them of cursed damnation, and exile from His mercy, e.g. Koran 5:13: “For breaking their covenant, We curse them, and have made their hearts hard.” And Koran 5:60…And Koran 5:64…And Koran 5:78…

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*Extracts from Salah al-Khalidi's work (translated from the original Arabic by Dr. Michael Schub in Andrew Bostom's The Legacy of Islamic Antisemitism) are provided from Khalidi’s major work Haqa’iq Koraniyya al Qadiyya al-Filastinniya [“Koranic Facts Regarding the Palestinian Issue”] which was first published in 1991 by the Hamas Publishing House Manshūrāt Filastin al-Muslima, and translated into Urdu, Hindi, Turkish, Russian, and English.

The House and Senate have now passed separate resolutions in solidarity with Israel. 

 

 Jan. 9, 2009 – 1:43 p.m.

House Adopts Measure Backing Israel on ‘Durable’ Gaza Truce

By Adam Graham-Silverman, CQ Staff

The House overwhelmingly adopted a resolution Friday to express solidarity with Israel and condemn the Islamist group Hamas for its role in the conflict in Gaza and southern Israel.

The non-binding measure (H Res 34), adopted 390-5, calls for a “durable and sustainable” cease-fire.

During floor debate, some supporters of the resolution sought to balance Israel’s right to self-defense with the loss of life on both sides.

“I have no trouble justifying the war Israel has undertaken. I am deeply troubled, however, by the suffering, destruction, and loss of innocent life that war inevitably entails,” said Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Howard L. Berman , D-Calif. “It is imperative that a way be found to stop the killing on both sides – but in a manner that will ensure that this round will be the last round.”

Others were less measured.

“While Israel seeks to lie aside a Palestinian state, Hamas seeks to kill or expel every Jew in the Middle East,” said Rep. Brad Sherman , D-Calif., chairman of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Nonproliferation, Terrorism and Trade. “Hamas proudly holds the flag of ethnic cleansing.”

Democrats Dennis J. Kucinich of Ohio and Lois Capps of California, and Texas Republican Ron Paul spoke against the measure. Paul, the lone GOP “no” vote, said the resolution was not in U.S. or Israeli interests and arming Israel leaves the United States with a moral responsibility for Palestinian deaths.

“There’s a political liability which I think is something that we fail to look at because too often there’s so much blowback from our intervention in areas that we shouldn’t be involved in,” Paul said.

Twenty-two members voted present, including Keith Ellison , D-Minn., one of two Muslim members. Ellison said he supported Israel’s rights but the measure did not do enough to encourage peace.

“Hopefully we can urge this Congress to not simply declare its support of its ally but  . . .  actually move its ally and the rest of the region toward a more durable, sustainable, final solution to this conflict,” he said.

In March 2008, the House voted 401-1 to condemn rocket attacks on Israel from Gaza. In that case, Paul was the only vote against, while four Democrats voted present.

Friday’s measure calls for a “durable and sustainable” cease-fire, which American and Israeli officials say must prevent Hamas from rearming and continuing attacks.

The resolution calls on Hamas to end its rocket attacks, but makes no mention of Israel’s bombing or ground attacks. It says the humanitarian situation in Gaza is “becoming more acute” and humanitarian needs should be addressed “promptly and responsibly.” It offers condolences to all victims and says “the lives of innocent civilians must be protected to the maximum extent possible.”

It also calls on countries to place blame on Hamas for ending a six-month cease-fire and for the resulting casualties, and to condemn the group for embedding itself among civilians. It urges Egypt to stop the smuggling of arms and other goods across its border into Gaza.

The Senate adopted a similar measure (S Res 10) by voice vote Thursday.

The language is a sort of mirror image of a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for a cease-fire. That measure, approved 14-0 Thursday with the United States abstaining, emphasizes humanitarian issues and makes no direct mention of Hamas.

“As the ancient rabbi stated, those who are merciful to the cruel, as the U.N. has been, will end up being cruel to the merciful — in this case, Israel,” commented Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, the ranking Republican on the Foreign Affairs panel.

 

Sidney Jacobson: For peace, Hamas must recognize Israel

For peace, Hamas must recognize Israel

January 9, 2009 Des Moines Register

In 2005, the Israeli government unilaterally withdrew from the entire Gaza Strip with the expressed hope that a constructive government would be put in place.

An infrastructure of sophisticated agricultural greenhouses was left in place as an economic start. The result was a total destruction of the greenhouses. In addition, literally thousands of Qassam rockets launched from Gaza have rained down on the civilian population of southern Israel.

Where has the outrage of the world been as the Hamas-led government of Gaza either launched rocket after rocket or encouraged other terrorist groups under their protection to launch rockets specifically targeting a civilian population? Targeting a civilian population is a war crime.

The Israeli government should and will be held accountable for its actions. I do not believe the Hamas terrorist entity is being held or will be held accountable for its actions and crimes against humanity. Until such time as the Palestinian people and governmental entities that represent them recognize the legitimacy of the state of Israel, there cannot be peace in the Middle East.

- Sidney Jacobson, Des Moines

Judy Deutch:  Rocket attacks on Israeli civilians must stop

Rocket attacks create constant fear in Israel

January 9, 2009  Des Moines Register

In November, I took my first trip to Israel. I spent time in Sderot, a low-income community of roughly 15,000 people. It is 1.5 miles from Gaza.

I learned firsthand that rockets from Gaza have been falling on Sderot's civilians for eight years.

Some of the schools have been reinforced to withstand Kassam attacks because buildings in Sderot have been badly damaged by the rockets. People have been killed and injured. Children have been traumatized because of the frequent attacks. When a warning sounds, the children have about 10 seconds to run to a safe place. Teachers have tried to help students ease their fears by teaching a song they can all sing together. Nevertheless, they live in constant fear.

It is obvious that these attacks on civilians must stop. Israel has no choice but to prevent Hamas from smuggling in, from stockpiling and launching rockets.

- Judy Deutch, Clive

Neil Salowitz: Israel must defend itself, but it still desires peace

January 9, 2009 Guest column: Israel must defend itself, but it still desires peace NEIL SALOWITZ is president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines. Contact: neil@dmjfed.org "If somebody was sending rockets into my house where my two daughters sleep at night, I would do everything to stop that, and would expect Israel to do the same thing." - Barack Obama, July 23, 2008, Sderot, Israel Imagine that for the past eight years, terrorists from outside the United States have fired thousands of rockets toward Iowa. Some of them have hit the schools your children attend, the church where you worship, the stores at which you shop. You and your family have been under constant fear of rocket attack - for eight years. How would you react? Would you want the U.S. government to "negotiate" with the people threatening your family? Would you want our government to respond "proportionately," whatever that means? Would you want our government to put a stop to the rocket attacks by whatever means necessary? The Israeli government is now engaged in a battle against Hamas, which has been branded a terrorist organization by both the United States and the European Union, and which has as one of its stated missions the destruction of the Jewish state. For the past eight years, Israelis have been subjected to nonstop terrorism in the form of Hamas rockets. Several years ago, the Israeli government negotiated a cease-fire with Hamas. The rocket attacks continued unabated despite the cease-fire. The agreement was formally broken by Hamas in December, and the rocket attacks against innocent civilians intensified until Israel took its recent steps to defend its citizens, first with an air campaign and now with ground forces. Israel took this action only after warning Hamas repeatedly that it would not continue to tolerate deliberate attacks on its citizens. The world, which was silent for eight years while Hamas repeatedly targeted Israeli civilians, has now suddenly found its voice, condemning Israel for doing what we would want our own government to do if someone were attacking the United States. The world ignores the fact that the Israel Defense Forces are taking steps to minimize civilian Palestinian casualties, going as far as calling Palestinians and dropping leaflets to warn of impending strikes. The world also turns a blind eye to the fact that Israel has been sending trucks into Gaza with humanitarian supplies. What other country would do that in the midst of a war? Contrast this behavior with that of Hamas, which callously uses innocent Palestinians as human shields and stores weaponry (much of which is supplied by Iran) in houses, schools, hospitals and mosques. In these circumstances, civilian casualties, always tragic, are inevitable. Hamas bears the responsibility for those casualties by deliberately putting Palestinian civilians in harm's way. Despite the current Israeli course of action to protect and defend its citizens - a course of action that has been forced upon Israel by a terrorist organization - I believe that Israelis fervently hope for the day when just and lasting peace will come to the region. The Israelis to whom I've talked have no problem with a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East. They simply want what the citizens of every country want - to be able to tuck their children into bed at night without fear of physical harm. In May 1948, the state of Israel declared its independence. Within hours, the combined might of five Arab armies attacked the nascent state. Israel defeated those armies in battle. Since that time, Israel has been attacked again and again, and has been forced to defend itself. The current situation is no different. Israel's actions are designed to change the security equation in order to make Israelis safe. Israel is not fighting the Palestinian people; it is fighting the terrorists who have hijacked Gaza, terrorists whose intransigence harms Palestinians as well as Israelis. Once Israel has met its security objectives and a more robust, verifiable cease-fire has been put in place to protect innocent Israeli citizens, Israelis and Palestinians of goodwill can continue on the road to true peace.

Hamas in their own words

Iowa Congressional Support for Israel

From the Israel Emergency Committee (IEC) of the Jewish Federation of Greater Des Moines    Contact: jcrc@dmjfed.org

 Statements in Support of Israel from Iowa’s members in Congress as of 1/8/09

As of January 8, 2009, we have received the following statements on the situation in Gaza in support of Israel  from members of the Iowa Congressional Delegation.  As additional statements are made public, IEC will include them on a comprehensive listing of statements.

On a national level, statements in support of Israel have been received on a bipartisan basis.  A partial listing* appears below the statements from members of the Iowa Congressional Delegation.

News:  The United States Senate today passed a resolution today supporting Israel’s quest for peace and right to self-defense.  

 

HARKIN STATEMENT ON THE SITUATION IN GAZA

Washington, D.C.  January 8, 2009– U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today released the following statement regarding the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

“Clearly any sovereign nation has the right and the duty to defend its borders.  And I understand and support Israel’s right to do so in defense of the rocket attacks by Hamas.

“Unfortunately, this action has escalated the violence and suffering by innocent people on both sides and this crisis will have no winners.  An open-ended conflict does not serve the long-term interests of the Israelis, Palestinians nor the international community. A ceasefire and honest negotiations for long-term peace and stability is the best way forward.  The Palestinian people deserve leadership that is committed to bringing about an end to the violence that will allow for a viable and independent Palestinian state living in peace with the State of Israel.”

 

Senator Charles Grassley on Hamas' provocation.

 

The essence of Senator Grassley's response to a reporter's question on "The Talk of Iowa"  broadcast 12/30/08 on Iowa Public Radio.

 

Question:  Is Israel's response to Hamas rocketing into Israel too much?

 

Sen. Grassley:  Hamas presumably doesn't want peace with Israel, so whatever their logic,  Hamas tries to kill Israelis by lobbing rockets  into Israel. Now, if they'd stop, Israel would not strike back at them in Gaza.  But otherwise, what would you expect the Israeli government to do?  It would be the same thing you'd expect President-elect Obama to do when he gets to be president.  If Americans were being shelled, you'd expect him to defend America. If Israel is being shot at from Gaza by Hamas, Hamas should expect to be shot back at.  I mean, that's just the way the world works.

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Congressman Leonard Boswell’s Statement on the Gaza Situation

 

“I strongly support Israel’s right to defend itself against the rocket attacks by Hamas—attacks which have killed and injured Israeli citizens.  Israel’s actions are understandable.  We must stand by our ally and be involved in any negotiations.  I’m heartened to learn today of a possible a cease fire proposal.  However, any cease fire must ensure an end to the terrorist attacks by Hamas.”   

-- January 7, 2008. Conveyed by Susan McAvoy.     

------------------------------------------------------------------------U.S. Congressman Steve King
Iowa’s Fifth Congressional District
http://www.house.gov/steveking/
_____________________________________________________________________________

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                            CONTACT: Matt Lahr
       December 31, 2008                                                                         Office: 202.225.4426 / Cell: 202.577.5138

King Statement on Gaza Situation

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Congressman Steve King made the following statement today on the current situation in Gaza.

"We all want peace in the Middle East, but a true agreement that balances Israel’s security concerns with the legitimate aspirations of the Palestinian people can only be obtained if senseless violence in this region ends.

“When Hamas chose to abandon a six-month peace agreement in favor of rocket attacks against Israel on December 19, Israel rightfully responded to defend its people. An estimated 500,000 Israeli citizens are now within range of Hamas’ rocket arsenal, and each unprovoked attack from Hamas puts thousands of lives at risk.

“Hamas should immediate suspend its attacks and pledge to work with Israel on an agreement bringing peace to this troubled region.”

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*Partial listing of statements ( as of December 31, 2008)  in support of Israel from Members of Congress. [Text of statements are available upon request.]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, House Minority Leader John Boehner, Vice Chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee Christopher Bond, Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission Alcee Hastings,  Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on State-Foreign Operations Judd Gregg, Sen. Benjamin Cardin, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Howard Berman, Chairwoman of the State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee Nita Lowey, Incoming Republican Whip Eric Cantor, Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Vice-Chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East Ron Klein, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Europe Robert Wexler, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade Brad Sherman.