"There’s always kind of a calming feeling I tell folks when I think of the Holocaust… and the fact that it was my ancestors – Palestinians – who lost their land and some lost their lives, their livelihood... all of it was in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews, post-Holocaust… and I love the fact that my ancestors provided that in many ways.”
– Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib of Michigan
A Twitter war broke out this week when Rep. Rashida Tlaib – a vocal supporter of the anti-Semitic BDS movement – said that the Holocaust gives her a "calming feeling" because Palestinians provided a "safe haven" for Jews.
While some interpreted her words as “celebrating” the Holocaust, closer inspection reveals that Tlaib’s true crime is a perversion of a different kind: the attempt to “credit” Palestinians with noble sacrifice to save Jews from persecution.
Historically and factually, Tlaib’s statement is wrong on many levels. Let’s unpack her words to expose four blatant lies.
(1) Safe Haven? No – Constant Terror.
The suggestion that Palestinians deserve credit for creating a Jewish “safe haven” is ludicrous, given the decades – before, during, and after the Holocaust – of unrelenting Palestinian violence and terror and the murder of thousands of Israelis including Holocaust survivors.
Palestinians devoted great resources to making the land as uninhabitable for the Jews as possible, repeatedly trying to destroy the Jewish state through military attacks, economic and cultural boycotts, and diplomatic isolation.
No, Rep. Tlaib, it is not true that Palestinians were the noble saviors of Jewish refugees. Rather, they actively opposed the "safe haven." Israel has prevailed and prospered, not because of Palestinian actions, but in spite of them.
(2) Safe Haven? No – Preventing Immigration.
Tlaib’s claims are further belied by the historical record which shows massive Palestinian pressure to prevent immigration of Jews fleeing the Nazi inferno.
In 1939, in response to violent Palestinian opposition, the British occupational government enacted harsh measures to restrict Jewish settlement in the Holy Land. This “White Paper” – issued in the wake of Kristallnacht – limited immigration to some 10,000 Jews annually, at the very time that millions of Jews were being targeted for genocide and desperate to find refuge.
[The British government eventually "conceded" to a still-paltry quota of 15,000 Jews for a few years, after which no further Jewish immigration would be permitted without Palestinian consent. Ironically, Palestinians rejected the White Paper on the grounds it was not harsh enough.]
Take no pride, Rep. Tlaib. The Palestinians were by no means welcoming of Jews as you suggest. Had Palestinians not opposed Zionism at every turn, European Jewry would have had a place to flee and millions of lives might have been saved. For Palestinians, this is a bloody badge of shame.
(3) Loss of Life and Livelihood? No – Health and Economic Boon.
Rep. Tlaib claims that in the process of creating a Jewish state, Palestinians suffered the loss of life and livelihood.
In actuality, the Palestinian population grew rapidly in proportion to the higher standard of living created by the Jews who brought improved agriculture, education, and health care to the region.
British historian Martin Gilbert estimates that tens of thousands of Arabs immigrated to Palestine in the 1920s and ‘30s, attracted by the economic opportunities that Jews – fueled by Western capital and technology – made possible.
At the time, Muslim leaders like Sherif Hussein understood how this Jewish return to their homeland would revive the region to the Arab’s benefit. “The resources of the country are still virgin soil and will be developed by the Jewish immigrants,” he declared.
Rep. Tlaib, history proves that by all metrics, the regeneration of the land, the population growth, and the standard of living soared only after Jews returned in massive numbers. The infant mortality rate among Palestinian Arabs was cut in half, and life expectancy was doubled. Palestinians became the most educated Arab population in the Middle East, with a literacy rate of 91%; seven Palestinian universities exist where previously there were none. These are the facts.
Tel Aviv was founded on a sand dune in 1909, and today is a global tech and cultural capital.
(4) Holocaust Rescue? No – Collaboration with Nazis.
How ironic that Rep. Tlaib characterizes the Palestinians as heroic creators of a safe haven for Jews, given the fact that Palestinian leaders during the 1940s were avowed and active partners in that very same Holocaust.
The undisputed leader of Palestinians during the Holocaust, Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini, closely collaborated with the Nazi genocidal machine:
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Husseini enjoyed a close relationship with Hitler, upon whom he conferred the Islamicized name, Abu Ali. Husseini organized 42,000 Muslim troops to form Nazi SS divisions that decimated Yugoslavian and Bosnian Jewry. Husseini’s Palestinian youth group, the "Nazi Scouts," was modeled after the barbaric Hitler Youth.
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Husseini spent the war years in Berlin where, at the behest of Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels, he delivered a daily pro-Nazi radio broadcast to the Muslim world. The broadcasts, which would always end by calling to slaughter the Jews, were enthusiastically received. On a wartime visit to the Middle East, Adolf Eichmann swelled with pride at how "Nazi flags fly in Palestine and they adorn their houses with Swastikas and portraits of Hitler."
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Husseini objected to any plans to expel European Jewry to Palestine, arguing that a better "solution" would be to kill all the Jews. As SS officer Dieter Wisliceny testified at the Nuremberg trials, "The Mufti was one of the initiators of the systematic extermination of European Jewry, and… constantly incited [Eichmann] to accelerate the extermination measures."
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Husseini issued fatwas calling for the destruction of the United States and Great Britain, and exhorted Arabs living in the U.S. not to support the Allied war effort. In a 1943 radio speech from Rome, Husseini declared: "If those Allies win this war... the world will become hell, God forbid."
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Husseini plotted to construct his own Nazi-style death camp in the West Bank. As he wrote in his memoirs: “Our fundamental condition for cooperating with Germany was a free hand to eradicate every last Jew from Palestine and the Arab world. I asked Hitler for an explicit undertaking to allow us to solve the Jewish problem… The answer I got was: ‘The Jews are yours.’”
After the war, Husseini was elected President of the National Palestinian Council, setting an example for future villains like Palestinian Authority president Mahmoud Abbas – whose doctoral thesis is a tome of Holocaust denial referring to the "fantastic lie that six million Jews were killed,” and the claim that Hitler did not kill any Jews until David Ben-Gurion provoked him into doing so.
Does there remain even a shred of credibility to Tlaib’s words?
Berlin, 1941: Palestinian founding father Mufti Haj Amin al-Husseini confers with Adolf Hitler.
No More Silence
Tlaib’s comments are especially harmful amidst the current swell of anti-Semitism in the U.S. – synagogue shootings; attacks in the streets; and elected officials claiming that Jews buy Congress and have dual loyalty. Just this week, a Muslim religious leader who compared Israel to the Nazis delivered the invocation in Congress.
Perhaps most disingenuous of all, Tlaib wraps everything into a package of “Palestinian victimhood“ – the classic technique of asserting that Palestinians are innocent martyrs who paid the price for European anti-Semitism. In truth, Palestinians are the perpetrators of their own suffering – not the victims of it.
Yet Tlaib remains defiant, knowing that trumpeting these patently false statements is a way to confer a modicum of legitimacy and shift the public discourse. In the face of widespread criticism, Tlaib declared: “All of you who are trying to silence me will fail miserably.”
No, Rep. Tlaib. We will not remain silent. We will expose your words as gross distortions of history. We will hold Palestinians accountable when they are perpetrators of their own suffering – not the victims of it. And whether in the media, on Twitter, or the halls of Congress, we will call out anti-Semitism whenever we see it.
(68) Carl Goldberg, July 16, 2019 10:24 PM
Ultimately, it's about Islam
Ultimtely, the reason the "Palestinians" refuse to make peace with the Jews is that the "Palestinians" are almost all Moslems., They consider themselves an integral part of both the Arab nation and the Islamic nation. As Moslems, they know that their god commands them to make war on the Jews and subjugate them to Islamic law, and their prophet commands them to make war on the Jews and kill them. The Hamas Charter makes this perfectly clear. I know that this is a hugely sensitive topic, but Islam is always in the background, and it needs to be discussed. You rightly talk about Haj Amin al Husseini who was not just a Palestinian nationalist leader, but a Moslem leader who organized two Moslem SS divisions to help Hitler exterminate the Jews.
Because the conflict with Israel is, in fact, an Islamic war against the Jews, there can never be peace, and we can expect American Moslems to support the rest of the Moslem world against Israel for religious reasons. Rashida Tlaib may not be super religious like Ilhan Omar, but he Islamic faith explains her antisemitism just like Ilhan Omar.
(67) Capland, June 21, 2019 3:08 PM
No just talking points
Let's be honest and admit the Palestinian mindset has l ol ng since been a one state solution. When the Jewish people recreated a viable land all the sudden what had been no man's land became ,you guessed it ...
(66) Carmida Elorz, May 28, 2019 11:04 PM
Thank you for your knowledge Rabbi Simmons
Thank you Rab. Simmons for stating the truth & exposing this Congresswoman's lies.
(65) Anonymous, May 27, 2019 5:24 PM
There is nothing calming related to the holocaust
Perhaps it is not rashida^ forte to articulate on the holocaust. It is a tough subject. We Jews fully reject bds and other anti semitic organizations and encourage peaceful dialogues and results. This is what I wish would calm all Palestinians. Edg
(64) Anonymous, May 25, 2019 9:18 PM
Right on!!!!
Right on!!!!
(63) Craigc, May 24, 2019 2:42 PM
fight for the right position in life.
Ishmael did not get the first born promise that Issac received. Isaac was the promised child to the seed of Abraham. The palastinian nation will always be fighting for that spot due to jealousy. The palastinian nation needs to realize the fact that The God of Abraham , Issac and Jacob will always favor the Jewish nation and those that keep his commandments.
(62) Anonymous, May 24, 2019 2:40 PM
Goid article. Thank you for exposing distortionsl stop anti semitism where you find it. Save America as well from the museums. The muftis grandson is no christian. Wallid is involved in isis in Baltimore Maryland
(61) Karen A Khurana, May 22, 2019 6:13 AM
When I read this article I still can't believe that someone would deny that their was a Holocaust. That anti-Semitism is on the rise. The Jewish people have suffered so much throughout history. I hope and pray that the Trump administration will continue to support Israel because I know Obama did not.
Finally, the hateful remarks spread by Rep. Talib must stop.
Let me just add that I am a Catholic and we are experiencing much anger and hatred from many. Again, I pray that people will open their hearts to love one another. Thank you for letting me share my views. God Bless
Baruch Atta, May 23, 2019 1:05 PM
Forward to local news paper
I forward it to my local newspaper. Let's see if they publish it.
(60) Mike, May 22, 2019 2:29 AM
The New Democrate Party?
What has happened to the Democrat Party. Why do Jewish leaders like Schumer, Nadler, and Schiff and remain silent as Tlaib and other freshmen congress members spew Jew hatred? They accuse President Trump of racism only to cover up their own antisemitism, and they think we are too stupid to notice.
Anonymous, May 22, 2019 6:20 AM
Doubt anyone thinks you are stupid
The fundamental differences are pretty monumental, is all.
The rise of antisemitism from the nationalist right, members of the republican party, where swastikas are becoming common spray painted on synogogues, as props in drinking games in high schools, arson attempts, recently in Chicago and Boston, and of course the worst hate crime against Jews in Pittsburgh since the Shoah, and the attack in Poway, might be their focus, instead.
I don't agree with Tlaibs comments, but given she has a grandmother in West Bank and her reality and life experience is different, I think she needs to learn. Highly doubt you will see her or Omar killing anyone, or inciting anyone else to do the same.
So, I guess, I am asking, also, what has happened to the republican party ?
Mike, May 22, 2019 10:09 PM
You are confusing politicians with hate groups.
Anonymous, both political parties have issues, but when left wing anarchist groups smash windows in downtown Seattle and clash with police I don't refer to them as "members" of the Democratic party. When student organizations threaten Jewish students on campus or stage anti Israel demonstrations I don't call them, "members" of the Democratic party. I am talking about members of the US Congress, not right or left wing hate groups who are on the fringes of society. Just because Rep. Tlaib has a grandmother in the West Bank, that does not give her the right to create her own reality or rewrite history. Rabbi Simmons has done a great job of exposing her lies.
(59) Ruth, May 21, 2019 1:26 PM
Palestinians??
The Palestine Post is now called the Jerusalem Post The Bank of Palestine is Bank Leumi The Palestine Soccer team's emblem was a Star of David The term "Palestinians" for arab people started in 1964. When Jews misuse the term they are buying the palestinian propaganda and lies. We should be informed with facts of truth
(58) rabbi hirsch joseph simckes, May 21, 2019 9:25 AM
every u.s. policy maker and true member of congress should memorize these 4 lies.s
rabbi simmons exposed the brutal fabrications in tlaib's despicable comments.
freedom of speech does not mean shouting out "There is no fire in this theater!"
when, factually speaking, the front and back of the theater are enveloped in
flames.
lies, deliberately intended to support the myth of palestinian victimhood
and israeli occupational victimizing of palestinians, were not intended to be covered by the "free speech" clause. such malicious deceipt and violation of
governmental standards of honesty and commitment to protect and encourage mutual respect and dignity should be cause for dismissal.
in short, tlaib and her ilk do not not belong in our legislative body.
(57) Sid Milech, May 20, 2019 1:06 PM
Informative article
This is an excellently written article, rationally refuting Tlaib's half-truths and complete misreoresentations.
(56) Charles E Reisen MD, May 19, 2019 2:29 PM
Eichmann in Palestine during wartime??
Eichmann visited before the war, if my memory is correct. How could a high ranking Nazi visit British territory during WW2?? Otherwise, a good article.
(55) Tzemach Richter, May 19, 2019 8:39 AM
BS"D
Thanks for your analysis and proof that Emet will always win over Sheker
(54) Anonymous, May 19, 2019 5:35 AM
Congratulation
I truly support your comments and your compassion for the Jewish people and the Jewish Nation. Truth. For many people, who refuse to believe the Truth, of the suffering of so many honest and good Jewish people. As God is our Creator, so the Holocoust did happen, and the Jewish Nation has wept for many years. I'm not Jewish, however I've prayed and wept for your people. I'd like to convert to Judism, and I've prayed to God for His Divine Intervention. Sincerely, Ralph O. May God Bless You and the Jewish People, and those before you.
(53) Chaya, May 19, 2019 2:50 AM
Pure Insanity
Given the fact that she is of "Palestinian" descent, it ia plausible that she would lie like a rug and have zero education when it comes to the Holocaust and the part her relatives played in the murders of innocent Jews. She and her best friends including Ilhan Omer will never admit they are wrong and their descendents reprehensible murderers.
(52) Jay, May 18, 2019 7:26 PM
Revisionist history
When history doesn't align with what they want, people like Talib just make up their own facts.
(51) Linda, May 18, 2019 10:07 AM
The truth needs to be proclaimed without fear of person. Thank you for article to defeat slander and lies. Israel (the nation) is the firstborn son of Hashem and the Land belongs to them. Baruch Hashem!
(50) Melissa, May 18, 2019 3:11 AM
Ridiculous
This is simple ridiculous and so untrue. What about the thousands of years of history, artifacts that have been found and unearthed in Israel that shows us the Jewish people there and have been there for thousands and thousands of years. Coins with Menorahs on it, and the Star of David, history of Israel and about Israel in other world literature (thousands of years old) the list goes on and on...They have found so many artifacts that link the Jewish people to the land, why? because it is OUR land. It has been our land. They will not be able to take it away, Hashem gave it to us, and He will not allow it. This is so absurd any more, it is beyond belief what these people will say or do. They could have a country filled with proof of who it belongs to but they still would say it isn't a Jewish country. This is only proof of what the Torah and the Prophets have said, I truly believe anymore that Only Hashem can only fix this problem. Beyond belief anymore.
(49) Yolanda Fonseca', May 17, 2019 7:38 PM
Those of us uninformed of details as revealed in this article would easily complement Rashida. Thank you Rabbi.
(48) miriam fishman, May 17, 2019 7:36 AM
get her to read this
how can you get this article to this woman, or better, a face to face conference with her? Who has the "clout" that she would respond to? Yes, we cannot be silent and try everything to expose such a person.
(47) Ben (of Ben's Tallit Shop), May 17, 2019 7:19 AM
Professional Journalism
Another piece of superb journalism by Rabbi Simmons! Could someone please forward this article to Ms. Tlaib?
(46) Anne Grande, May 17, 2019 2:44 AM
Brilliant ! All the history to backup the lies !
Brilliant article!!! Thank you for sharing the truth. This has to be posted in all the major newspapers and tv networks!
(45) Robert & Anne M Murcek, May 17, 2019 2:41 AM
thank you!
Thank you SO much for authoritatively rebutting Tlibib's outrageous statement. We needed the facts.
(44) Stuart Jack Goodman, May 16, 2019 10:54 PM
Beautifully written, KEEP THE RECORD STRAIGHT AND ACCURATE FOR ALL
The true history, as written, needs to be communicated over and over and over again. Education is vital.
It is tragic what she has said, her true 'colors' are shown each time she speaks.
(43) Aline Niddam, May 16, 2019 7:59 PM
This article should be published in all medias ! Enough lies ! She should be removed from her position but too many of her party still are blinded with hate of the Jews. Thank G’d we have President Trump in the White House! He will be re-elected.
(42) E Wilson, May 16, 2019 7:34 PM
Desert People are exactly that.
Events over the last 100 years indicates that Palestine is a nation whose people can't even agree amongst themselves what needs to be done and achieved.
(41) duPont, May 16, 2019 7:04 PM
Ignorance is Bliss!
Tlaib is an overt anti-Semite as is Ilhan Omar. Their election to Congress is an aberration and makes a mockery of the institution. Hopefully, those who put them in office will come to their senses and eject them forcefully next election. I am hoping their hateful pronouncements will cause them to be impeached and thrown out of Congress before election time arrives.
(40) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 6:55 PM
From Time Immemorial - Joan Peters
From Time Immemorial should be required reading for anyone speaking on behalf of the Palestinians from Capitol Hill. Anything less is simply irresponsible rhetoric.
Her responses on the other hand are sheer lies and she knows it very well.
(39) Dr. M. L. Tiell, May 16, 2019 5:45 PM
Beside how disturbing Tlaib's. distortion of history and historical facts was, much more disturbing to me was the silence of Schumer,Blumenthal, Nadler., Feinstein ,Engle , Schiff. and all the other prominent democrats who denounce anti-semitism when it suits their agenda. In reality, they are as blatantly anti-Semitic as Tlaib, Ilhan , Sanders and Ocasio-Cortez
Anonymous, May 16, 2019 11:57 PM
Pretty outrageous Comment, I think.
Sanders, Feinstein, the others, are not anti-semitic, just because they do not agree with you.
Not much more to say about it, we are so divided. It is truly heartbreaking.
Yoni, May 17, 2019 5:04 AM
Missing the point
I don’t believe Dr. Tiell was saying that Schumer, Sanders, Feinstein, Blumenthal and Schiff are anti semites or self hating Jews, rather that they cry anti semitisim when it suits their political needs (against Trump) and they shamefully ignore anti semitisim that comes from democrats (the vile and disgusting words of Tlaib, Omar, AOC and co.). It’s hypocritical, foolish and downright dangerous for the rest of the Jews.
Anonymous, May 17, 2019 11:21 AM
To commenter Yoni
I actually have Schumer and Gillebrand on speed dial and called their offices about another matter. During my call to Schumer's office his staff person asked if there was anything else I wanted to tell the senator. Yes, I said. Please tell the senator to speak out against Omar, Sarsour, Talaib and ALL of the anti Semitism. I said I knew that Schumer was Jewish and it was his obligation to be vocal. The staff person assured me that Schumer does speak out against all anti Semitism and will continue to do so. Also, people need to VOTE this type of garbage out of office when the time comes. Finally, there is actually some sliver lining here. The fact that people are now being called on the carpet for their hatred is something that needs to continue. That is no small thing.
Yoni, May 17, 2019 12:45 PM
Thank you!
Thank you for doing the right thing. We should all call, email and write to our elected officials asking them to please condemn all such anti semitisim in the strongest terms. If we don’t have strong voices speaking out against this from both sides of the aisle, we risk anti semitisim to be normalized in the US Congress. I hope we have not yet reached that point.
Josh P., May 20, 2019 8:01 AM
Simple Answer
The simple truth is that the Democrat Party cares more about defeating Orange Man than they care about the truth. To defeat Orange Man, they need their "intersectional" alliance to remain intact, and as we all know, the Palestinian-Arabs (despite their Nazi ties) are in that alliance and Jews are not, unless we can be their Useful Idiots.
(38) Miriam, May 16, 2019 5:42 PM
Well researched article
There is so much in your article that I did not know. Let's continue to call a spade a spade and an anti-semite an anti-semite. Great job. Thank you.
(37) Yoni, May 16, 2019 5:25 PM
Great Factual Article
My question is, what will take for Jewish Democrat’s to stop supporting this party? The Democrat leadership has continued to support this evil woman and her cohort, Ilhan Omar y”sh. What will it take for well meaning Jewish voters to understand that these people are not our friends and don’t have our best interests at heart? Just some food for thought. If hypothetically, Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar where living in Europe in the early 1940s, would anyone imagine what activities they would be engaged in?
Deborah, May 16, 2019 8:42 PM
Excellent point
I will never understand this phenomena. I also do not understand why these two women are defended by democrat party leaders
Anonymous, May 17, 2019 12:00 AM
Bridging the Divide
What do you think will heal this - as Jews who do not agree, and are not budging in their stances. How do we come together, regardless?
(36) Frances Weingarten, May 16, 2019 5:12 PM
Rashida Tlaib has tried to show herself to be totally ignorant of who the Arabs are and what they have always been. However, she can't get very far with her deplorable lies as most people are very aware of the ugliness of the Arabs -- including her of of course!
(35) Frances Weingarten, May 16, 2019 4:57 PM
Rashida Tlaib has used her notoriety to make herself heard and she has succeesed to a certain extent, mainly among those younger groups who don't have the knowledge or experience to know what's good, bad or useless in politics -- she coming under the useless !!£
(34) Earl Goldsterin,DDS, May 16, 2019 4:22 PM
Its time to forcethe democratic leadership to condemn her lies rather tha defend her
There must be a concerted effort by democrats, both office holders, especially congress members and senators to no longer remain silent but to call her lies out. Jewish members of both houses by remaining silent are complicit in her lies of well known and proven history. She is following the teachings of the Nazi propagandistJoseph Goebbels, “Tell a big lie and tell it often enough and people will start to believe it.” Pelosi and Hoyer by nit picking the criticism have only further enabled her lies to spread but give her an open field in which to run.
(33) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 4:03 PM
Rep. Lee Zeldin
Lee Zeldin was the first Representative in Congress who recently
responded to the suggestion by the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, to apologize, to Rashida Tlaib for misinterpreting Tlaibs remarks about the Holocaust. Instead, Rep. Zeldin lashed out the body of Democrats starting with Pelosi who introduced a watered down and vague answer to Ilhan Omar's and Rashida Tlaib's evil comments about Jews. Zeldin pointed out that it is the Jewish students across college campuses who have to endure the almost daily harassment of students of support BDS and Students for Justice in Palestine who deserve an apology. If anyone has access to this clip, it is well worth the time to watch. Finally, someone
had the guts to stand up to these tyrants, who should be removed from Congress. However, their supporters Pelosi and Chuck Schumer among them, refuse to rock the boat, because they are afraid of losing the votes of those miscreants. Maybe something will change.
(32) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 3:38 PM
Good article
Good bringing the truth to the forefront
(31) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 3:31 PM
Palestinians make all sorts of claim to the land of Israel because it’s already much improved, progressive and one of the best real states in the world. They had no say when the land was muddy, covered with rocks, full of muck and mosquito infested, how true colors come out when they want to take advantage of the situation
(30) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 3:10 PM
What do you expect? yet the House leaders are another matter
All she spews are lies, even her reference to her "national" identity is a lie.
However, more troublesome is the attitude of House Democrats who refuse to condemm her words (and those of some of her colleagues.)
By giving her a pass, and even condemming those who criticise her and call her out, they are, in effect, legitimizing her claims.
And the uneducated masses, especially the youth, will just believe her.
Shame on them!
(29) Shirley Morrison, May 16, 2019 2:58 PM
She can doo much harm to the Jewish people at this most delicate time in the last 20 years!
The two Muslim women now in Congress were raised in a time when their Palistinian leaders were preaching hatrid of Israel and Jews, taught as early as pre-kindergarten! To believe them NOW is dangerous and untrustworthy. They are products of the Muslim extremists, The Brotherhood, who are trying to destroy Israel and all that it stands for.
(28) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 2:56 PM
Is the Bible and Tora truth or not?
Israel was given to the Jewish People by God. Israel over the years screwed up like all other nations do. How can the Palestinians claim something that God has given to His People Israel? This dates back to the time of Joshua and now it is Palestinian land?
(27) Bjh, May 16, 2019 2:56 PM
Lies and more lies!
I'm so amazed that these people have made it into the United States government! It is very frightening! They have made a mockery of our country and constitution! They hate Israel and are not afraid to speak out about their hatred for the Jewish people! I'm sure they feel no different about Christians! Why any Jewish person would vote for democrats is beyond me! This is how they feel, but this hateful person and Omar are not afraid to voice it on a frequent basis! Democrats have a true problem of lies and more lies! God Bless Israel and the Jewish people! I'm a Christian and a Republican and I will never stop standing up for Israel and the Jewish people! My Savior was a Jew!!!
(26) Perla, May 16, 2019 2:53 PM
An American Congresswoman rewrites history
Jewish Holocaust Survivors had a strong unwelcome from the Palestinians and the British when they struggled to overcome the horrors of Europe. It's not hard to make up stories and pretend that Jews were welcomed into Israel before Independence especially if you were not there during that time. In the USA she is free to make up stuff.
(25) Mary Davis, May 16, 2019 2:46 PM
The woman is delusional
My goodness, what this woman spews are downright lies and filth. How and why anyone listens to her is beyond me. She may have been elected to Congress, which says a lot about her constituency. May the Almighty help us and that I may have the courage not to stay silent. I am a Catholic with a strong admiration for the Jewish people and their history.
(24) Shimeon Weiner, May 16, 2019 2:21 PM
Bravo.
Thank you for writing this - it's factual and that's what we need - the facts.
(23) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 2:18 PM
How can we get this in mainstream publications and college campuses? We need to bombard the media like she is doing.
(22) Jack Howard, May 16, 2019 2:06 PM
Everyone’s A “Hero” ?
Wasn’t it Sherif Husein, mentioned in this piece, who also said: “The Jews will make bloom, the land we Arabs made a desert.”
(21) Ruben Braha, May 16, 2019 2:03 PM
Why you do not mention the pogrom of the Arabs in the Middle East and in North Africa ? Thousands of jews were tortured and murdered starting from the late 30th to the 1967. I was a witness of the pogroms in Tripoli in 1945 , 1948 , 1956 and 1967 with the connivence of the British Administration. We jews of North Africa lost 100 times more than the Palestinians in land, properties ,business and human lives
(20) Graham Coates, May 16, 2019 2:01 PM
A brilliant article
Wonderful read thank you and blessings on you
(19) Michael, May 16, 2019 1:57 PM
Not quite
She did not claim that Palestinians provided a safe haven, she said it was provided at their expense and against their will. In any event, we are safer here--even with Palestinian violence--than we were in Nazi Europe. In addition, while standard of living and conditions did improve massively for those who stayed here, there were many who did lose their land and not a few who lost their lives in the upheaval that went with the establishment of the State of Israel. That it was more thanks to the Arab decision to go to war does not mean that it did not happen. You would do better to critique what she actually said--incoherent as it was--than to create a straw man. There was plenty to criticize there.
(18) StanleyT, May 16, 2019 1:55 PM
Proof of Arab immigration
In 1937, in response to Arab rioting, the British commissioned the Peel Report, which set out to strictly limit the amount of land given to the Jews, and slow Jewish immigration. The irony is that in its anti-Jewish intention, the Peel Report could not help being honest about Arab immigration. It even states, under the heading "The Present Situation", the following:
"The Arab population shows a remarkable increase since 1920, and it has had some share in the increased prosperity of Palestine."
(17) Pat Toensmeier, May 16, 2019 1:50 PM
Tlaib Is a Disgrace
Rashida Tlaib's election to the House of Representatives is disgraceful. All congressional representatives who understand reality and the truth should read this article into the Congressional Record.
(16) Edward London, May 16, 2019 1:47 PM
Wish this response to the hate-filled remarks of our shameless, misguided Congresswoman could be published as an Op-Ed in NYT, WashPost and other influential print media
Hateful, anti-semitic remarks that are such distortions of the truth.
(15) Tova Saul, May 16, 2019 1:46 PM
Excellent article
This is the best I have seen written about her farcical words so far. Kol hakavod.
Bottom line: The British kept out of Palestine before, during, and after the Shoah due to the British need for oil, and subsequent fear of angering the Arab world. Safe haven? More like an Impenetrable Wall.
(14) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 1:45 PM
Why hasn’t the Democratic Party leadership distanced themselves from these lies ?
Thank you very much for this article ! I hope it receives wide publicity ! American Jews should be alert and aware that the tremendous support they are providing the Democratic Party are fueling these lies and G-d forbid may lead to government sponsored Anti Semitisim ! By the if I’m not mistaken the “Palestinian” people came into existence in 1967 following the Six day war. In 1948 they were Jordanian Arabs ...
Dvirah, May 16, 2019 4:21 PM
Not Quite
The "Palestinians" as an Arab "nation" were created on paper in 1964 - 3 years BEFORE 1967 and NOT in reaction to the 6 Days' War - by Arafat & his collaborators. See the "Israel-Arab Reader" edited by Walter Laquer & Barry Rubin and "The Palestinian Covenant and its Meaning" by Y. Harkabi.
(13) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 1:44 PM
this info needs to get out to the public.
Most Palestinians believe the same way. Many whites who are uninformed about the Holocaust believe it as well. More true facts need to surface.
(12) Maya, May 16, 2019 1:42 PM
BS”D, Excellent Post, please share this with all media
The truth must come out! We mustn’t limit this knowledge to just Jewish readers.
(11) Eric Smith, May 16, 2019 1:40 PM
Excellent but....
Excellent article however it is not being read by those who need to read it
Suggest sending this article to all the 'anti' papers in USA
(10) Anonymous, May 16, 2019 1:39 PM
Typical America
Tlaib and Omar were put unfortunately into office because they were women and women of color with little regard to the possibility of their elected office being a platform for their hidden agenda. They need to be replaced as soon as possible. However it seems that the por quo is not to make anyone made. Yet it is fueling the increasing antisemitism in the world and definitely in the US. We say "never again," yet it is happening "again." We need to demand that they be sanctioned,recalled and replaced with females who are the run of the mill and not this nonsense.
(9) VALERIE BARTLEY, May 16, 2019 7:01 AM
I WHOLE HEARTEDLY PRAISE HA'SHEM FOR THIS TRUE AND REVEALING ARTICLE ! PEOPLE IN A PLACE OF POLITICAL AUTHORITY SHOULD FIRSTLY NEVER EXPRESS THEIR PERSONAL OPINIONS AS HISTORICAL TRUTH. SECONDLY, WHEN LIES ARE PERPETRATED FROM SUCH A PERSON TO DESPARAGE PRECIOUS HOLOCAUST VICTIMS, SUCH A PERSON SHOULD BE PROSECUTED FOR A HATE CRIME!
(8) Ben, May 15, 2019 9:24 PM
Now Dems DEFEND False History of Israel Haters!
We need not feel overwhelmed. We must remember our survival these 3000 years is an Open Miracle. Over Billion Moslems and Over Billion Christians and the JEWS (about 14 million globally) Return to ISRAEL from all over world where now Israel is country with Most Jews. World sees Gds Hand! But from originally condemning Rep Omar for smearing pro Israel congress people She has now turned to DEFENDING! Pro BDS pro Hamas FABRICATORS of HISTORY calling her Palestinian anscestors "sacrificers" for a Jewish haven after the Holocaust! The Jews Returned to their HOMELAND and holy sites because G-d wanted it! And it is EASY to lookup the history that Palestinian Arabs rioted and protested till the British SEVERLY LIMITED Jews from finding a haven in the land in what was called the White Paper! and in 1948 they with 5 Arab armies tried to Destroy the Jews! and in WW2 Palestinian leader Mufty Husseini was a friend of Hitler invited to Berlin!
Anonymous, May 16, 2019 4:25 PM
Yes, But...
The problem is: how many will make that effort?
(7) Judy Rosner, May 15, 2019 6:52 PM
She's a liar
How dare this unamerican broad get elected only to try to smear the best citizens our country has - and Israel has as well. She should be immpeached and evicted.
(6) Jay Shayevitz, May 15, 2019 4:16 PM
Why stop at 4? Not a word that comes out of her mouth other than perhaps “and” or or “the” can be believed. She is a nasty piece of work.
(5) RB, May 15, 2019 3:48 PM
SOURCE PLEASE!
"Husseini may well have originated the idea of gas chambers and crematoria" - Please provide a source for this. A few years ago, Netanyahu falsely stated that Husseini gave Hitler the idea for the Final Solution. This statement caused a HUGE uproar. Of course, Husseini was a massive antisemite, but we MUST be historically accurate.
(4) Anonymous, May 15, 2019 1:51 PM
Contact your representatives and senators
Email/contact your local and state representatives and share your opinion and include this article. Also, ask for their opinion. It is important that we know where each one of them stands and they declare it publicly.
(3) Deborah Hurwitz, May 15, 2019 1:28 PM
Excellent response to Tlaib's anti-Semitic, blatant lies and distortions. There is an urgent need to enlighten and educate all people everywhere with the true facts. We must not remain silent ever again. Perhaps, you can take a full page ad in The NY Times and other mainstream media across the country (e.g. Washington Post) and on internet.
(2) Dovid Rosenfeld, May 15, 2019 11:07 AM
not to defend her but...
One point should be clarified. Rashida Tlaib does not seem to be claiming that her ancestors willingly afforded the post-Holocaust Jews any of this - just that they lost land and lives "in the name of trying to create a safe haven for Jews." I.e., others did it to them for that purpose. She did not seem to be attempting to claim her ancestors could take any credit for this, just that in a sense something good was done to the survivors through their loss.
This makes here statements a little less factually false, and if anything is a fairly conciliatory remark to at least acknowledge that creating a home for Jews was a good thing - and something she's happy came out of their loss. It's actually not too terrible a remark for an avowed pro-BDS Palestinian - although it's quite frightening to be coming from a sitting US congresswoman.
Anonymous, May 16, 2019 2:00 PM
that needed to be said
Your rational take on her remark is appreciated.
When a person extends and exaggerates a political foes comments, it seems to expose a weakness in the writers own political stance. So much of this in politics today.
Anonymous, May 16, 2019 6:36 PM
This can be said about every time that there is outrage about what she says
I also agree with your rational remarks. It is obvious that all the outrage at her remarks is just a chance to yell at her.
That her words that were not said in a hateful way towards Jews are parsed and interpreted to show that she is almost equal to Hitler ym"sh is a tragedy.
Is this how proud we Jewish people are ? We can write a whole article about her "falsehoods" (although I can quote the original Zionist leaders which will contradict many of Rabbi Simmons words) , demand her resignation , and accuse the whole Democratic party of Anti Semitism because of a few sentences taken out of context.
She is a Palestinian and has her viewpoint on history due to the fact that she is on the losing side of it. It is different than our viewpoint.
There is no need to judge and attack her when she says things that are pareve. She still has a vote and might be in office for a while.
Anonymous, May 17, 2019 12:09 AM
Such Wisdom
Thank you for your post.
(1) Anonymous, May 15, 2019 9:17 AM
"Palestinians"
The term "Palestinian" to refer to Arabs only started in 1964. The British refered to Jews as "Palestinians" during the British Mandate. In 1964, Egypt created the Palestine Liberation Organization, which consisted of non-Jewish people who had
moved from various countries to Israel to work for Jews. The head of the PLO, Arafat, yimach shmo, decided to call members of the organization "Falistinians" (Arabic does not have a "P" sound.) So Palestinian nowadays is referring to a non-existent people, which did not exist at the time of the holocaust. ( from an article by Emanuel A. Winstonon emetnews.org)
Anonymous, May 15, 2019 11:02 AM
The Land had a People
Regardless of what you call them, they were there.
StanleyT, May 16, 2019 1:52 PM
No, many of them were not
There was a huge influx of Arabs to the Holy Land, rushing there to take advantage of the prosperity created by the early Zionists. Why do you think UNWRA defined "refugee" as somebody who only had to have 2 years of residence there? Why do you think that in 1937, the notoriously anti-Jewish Peel Report even noted that the Arab population had increased dramatically? (See my comment above for the actual words) Don't fall for Arab propaganda.