President of the Arab American Institute, prominent political commentator and anti-Israel voice James Zogby writes in the Huffington Post on recent polls commissioned by his organization. While we have no interest in commenting on domestic US politics and how US President Trump’s campaigning and policies have impacted on attitudes towards the Arab American community, we do take issue with Zogby’s concluding paragraph:

This situation is of deep concern to Arab Americans and American Muslims. We have, in the past, experienced discrimination, been victims of hate crimes, and endured painful political exclusion. It is clear that sustained hostile campaigns either by hardline supporters of Israel or, now, by some leading Republicans have taken a toll on our communities. They must be combated until our political discourse is freed from the scourge of hate, negative stereotyping, and scapegoating.

Can Zogby give examples of “sustained hostile campaigns” by “hardline supporters of Israel” against the Arab Americans and American Muslims?

Given the number of US Jewish organizations that campaign against racism and xenophobia, including against Arabs and Muslims, it is nothing but a smear for Zogby to even insert Israel into this issue. All this appears to amount to is a toxic attitude that sees the hand of Israel and Zionists behind anything negative occurring towards the Arab American and Muslim community.

If Israel activists have found themselves involved in fractious activities, this is a result of fighting anti-Semitism and Israel hate that emanates from some Muslim organizations in the US. This does not, however, automatically infer that this demonstrates promoting hate, negative stereotyping and scapegoating.

Shame on James Zogby for plumbing the depths.

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