Longtime Jihad Watch readers will remember Sami Al-Arian, the former University of South Florida professor who for years was a darling of the Leftist intelligentsia. In March 2002, Nicholas Kristof went to bat for the professor in the New York Times: “The point is not whether one agrees with Professor Al-Arian, a rumpled academic with a salt-and-pepper beard who is harshly critical of Israel (and also of repressive Arab countries) — but who also denounces terrorism, promotes inter-faith services with Jews and Christians, and led students at his Islamic school to a memorial service after 9/11 where they all sang ‘God Bless America.’ No, the larger point is that a university, even a country, becomes sterile when people are too intimidated to say things out of the mainstream.” Islamic apologist John Esposito of Georgetown University, in a letter to the President of the University of South Florida after she fired Al-Arian, reminded her that “the University did a thorough independent review several years ago which found no merit in accusations made at that time” and worried that Al-Arian was merely falling victim to “anti-Arab and anti-Muslim bigotry.”
Unfortunately for Kristof, Esposito and others like them, his Rumpled Academic eventually pled guilty to being a leader of Palestinian Islamic Jihad. He pleaded guilty to a charge of “conspiracy to make or receive contributions of funds to or for the benefit of Palestinian Islamic Jihad, a Specially Designated Terrorist” organization. He agreed to accept deportation. In his 2002 defense of Al-Arian, Eric Boehlert wrote: “The al-Arian story reveals what happens when journalists, abandoning their role as unbiased observers, lead an ignorant, alarmist crusade against suspicious foreigners who in a time of war don’t have the power of the press or public sympathy to fight back.” Reality is just the opposite. The al-Arian story reveals what happens when journalists and Leftist academics, abandoning their role as unbiased observers, lead an ignorant, alarmist crusade against Americans who in a time of war try to defend our country from those whose politics make them the darlings of the Leftist media and academic establishment.”
Reality was exactly the opposite, yes, but of Boehlert’s claims. This latest incident confirms that.
“Al-Arian Renews Calls for Israel’s Destruction at Turkish Conference,” by Abha Shankar, IPT News, December 28, 2020:
Nearly 30 years ago, Sami Al-Arian stood before an audience in Chicago and made his radical ideology as clear as possible.
“The Quran is our constitution,” he bellowed. “Jihad is our path … Victory to Islam… Death to Israel… Revolution… revolution till the victory.”
Two weeks ago, Al-Arian appeared from Istanbul before a virtual audience and made his radical ideology clear, albeit in softer, more academic language.
The global Muslim community, or ummah, cannot realize its full potential without “defeating and dismantling the Zionist project,” he said during a Dec. 18 panel discussion in Turkey.
“We cannot pursue an ummah project without actually attaining our real independence. We cannot attain our real independence without dealing with the problem of Israel,” Al-Arian said, adding that “as long as Israel exists, the ummah will stay weak and fragmented, and disunited and divided and dependent and under control.”
His comments were part of the Fourth International Conference on the Muslim Ummah, co-sponsored by Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University’s Center for Islam and Global Affairs (CIGA), where he now works.
Al-Arian has never publicly acknowledged serving on the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) Shura Council, a leadership board, during the 1990s and early 2000s. It is unclear whether he continues to have a relationship with the PIJ, a U.S.-designated terrorist group that is committed to destroying Israel and creating an Islamic state in its place.
At the conference, Al-Arian emphasized the “centrality of the Palestinian cause” to the Muslim ummah “because of what Israel represents in this international system, in the regional system, and in the different relationships that take place in this region.” He added that “confronting that menace, confronting that threat must become a priority” and “unite all efforts” within the ummah.
In the United States, Al-Arian founded the Islamic Committee for Palestine (ICP), which served as “the active arm of the Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine” and raised money for the terrorist group. The PIJ rejects any peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Only “the jihad solution and the martyrdom style” can liberate Palestine, the group’s bylaws say.
Called “a master manipulator” by the federal judge presiding over his case, Al-Arian pled guilty in 2006 to conspiring to make or receive contributions of funds, goods or services to or for the benefit of PIJ. He was deported to Turkey in 2015 as part of that plea agreement and he now heads CIGA at Istanbul Sabahattin Zaim University.
During the discussion, Al-Arian claimed that Israel’s creation “in the midst of the Muslim world was a major goal for colonialist powers to maintain hegemony and control, and to keep that area fragmented and weak.”
“Any revivalist project,” he added, “if it does not deal with this fact, then it is ignoring the 800 pound gorilla in the room.”
Drawing a Crowd
Prominent Muslim Brotherhood-tied individuals such as Amr Darrag, Louay Safi, and Sabri Samirah addressed the weeklong conference. Several American academics and Islamists also participated in the conference, including Georgetown University’s John Esposito and Jonathan Brown….
Walter Sieruk says
That man is strongly overruled by none other than the God of the Bible. For He has declared in his Word, “For the Lord has chosen Jacob for Himself. Israel for His special treasure.” Psalm 135:4. [N.K.J.V.’
Mount Zion says
Amen.
gravenimage says
Muslim former US professor who was darling of the American Left renews call for Israel’s destruction
……………….
This does not surprise. Sami Al-Arian is a nasty piece of work.
Just Speak the Truth says
“Arian” means “naked” in Egyptian Arabic.
Westman says
“Any revivalist project,” he added, “if it does not deal with this fact, then it is ignoring the 800 pound gorilla in the room.”
Revivalist Project? Reviving means to restore – what “Palestinian” wants to go back to the conditions of 1948?
The 800 pound gorillah is Islam’s theft of prayer time, the poor education of the madrasas, and the inabilty of Muslims to work for a common goal. Demonstrations and violence create nothing.
Palestinians had the same opportunity to make something of their society as did Jews in 1948. Instead, they chose Muhammad’s way, violence – and never changed. Except for oil kingdoms who buy infrastructure and businesses, the cooperative production for Arabs lags far behind the West and Israel.
Al-Arian is just another opportunist exploiting Palestinian angst. The message from those Muslim leaders, in safe places, is Palestinians, go die and rid us of Israel. And what has been the result for Palestinians? Even Abbas, Hamas, and Hezbollah are making fortunes off Palestinians – their true goal. Professional soldiers need perpetual war to prosper.
Al-Arian: “We cannot pursue an ummah project without actually attaining our real independence. We cannot attain our real independence without dealing with the problem of Israel.”
Such delusion, lies, and an excuse for lazyness. Let’s suppose there was no Israel. Would Iran be a brother to Saudi Arabia? Would Erdogan give up his drive for a caliphate? Would there be no ISIS? Would Al-Arian roll up his sleeves and sweat; physically working for Palestinians? Would the rest of Islam respect Palestinians?
There is only one road to a proud Palestine and that is raising the society above violence, creating its own industries, and trading with the rest of the world. Japan did it with no natural resources, just the productivity and unity of its citizens.
The action that Sami Al-Aria demands will just reduce Palestinians to grinding poverty. Israel and Western nations already provide seed money to “Palestine”. How it is spent and the unified productivity will define Palestinans and map their future.
gary fouse says
The Palestinians are not Japanese. They never have been, and they never will be.
gary fouse says
Sami al-Arian is a classic example of someone who never should have been allowed in this country. It is to the shame of the University of South Florida that he was a professor there. May he never darken our shores again..
gravenimage says
+1
Ron B. says
https://crossfire.movie/ Jihad takes many forms. Watching Crossfire i was reminded that jihadis have been travelling the globe for years,under the pretence of being refugees. As per the instructions in the koran, 2:218
This person, i refuse to think of him in terms of a man, migrated to the USA for the sole purpose of spreading the message of hate against the kuffar. it was jihad and I suspect the likes of ANTIFA and BLM are infested with more of a like mind. .
Mojdeh says
Quran is our constitutions.. Hell with your outdated constitutions that kills Muslims, Christians, Jews and Hindus…. Hell with that your Mohammad impostor was child abuser and married Ayshia 6 years old . Come on is this your constitutions i say we burn all of them in the world.
gravenimage says
Mojdeh, I’m afraid that the Qur’an itself is hideously violent, and teaches Muslims to rape, rob, and murder Infidels until they submit to the horrors of Islam.
Then, you have never backed up your claim that the “Prophet” Mohammad was a great guy replaced by an imposter. Citations, please.
Abdul Aziz Khan says
Please study The Quraan Shareef
Then make ur comments
Islam means Submitting to Almighty Allah Azzawajjal
Please don’t make false accusations in a ignorant form
gravenimage u have the wrong side of Islam
Besides when u address Our Prophet Muhammud Mustapha Saalahualaihiwasal mention may peace be upon
Why does all the ignorant people barking up the wrong Tree about Islam
I believe in anger and ignorance please don’t make false accusations on religion
Abdul Aziz
Hoi Polloi says
Let’s keep the constitutions that attribute full, rather than half-human, status to women.
Hoi Polloi says
Our wholly bought and paid for mainstream press operates as though they can sell us all the notion that there exists only one classification for these individuals, that of “austere religious scholar.”
Giacomo Latta says
”disunited and divided and dependent and under control”
Muslims don’t need Israel to be disunited and divided and, in fact, should be more united than ever given what the koran says about Jews. As for being dependent and under control, by who? Israel controls 2.5 billion muslims worldwide in their dozens of countries and despite (rather, probably due to) billions of dollars being passed to them every year from the UN and any other leftist group. If you’re going to blather on then at least be specific from time to time.
gravenimage says
+1