Meet the pro-Israel Muslims who are willing to condemn evil

Regrettably, we’ve gotten used to the idea that if you’re Muslim, you must be anti-Israel, anti-Jewish and antagonistic toward Western culture. While that is a sad reality in so many cases, it is not an entirely accurate depiction of some Muslims, who deserve a lot of credit for having the courage and open-mindedness, which has allowed them to rise above the hatred and murderous spirit that is so pervasive amongst many who follow some version of today’s radical Islam.

From the start, pro-Israel Muslims have one thing in common. They recognize that their people, in the quest to rid the world of Jews, are not above exploiting, injuring or killing other Muslims, and that is especially troubling to them. To hear it from Reihan Salam, American political commentator and columnist, as well as president of the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, “Many of us understand that Hamas and other organizations, devoted to the extermination of the Jewish people are also committed to brutalizing and murdering Muslims who stand in the way of their totalitarian designs.”

Joining his sentiments is Anila Ali, a Pakistani-American Muslim and Women’s Rights Activist who, when attending a rally at Washington’s Dillard University, held this past November, said, “I am here to affirm to my Abrahamic brothers and sisters that you are not alone. Islam prohibits all the horrific acts Hamas committed on October 7,” ending her speech by quoting the well-known phrase, “Am Israel Chai” (the people of Israel live)

The only reason those two voices sound shocking to us is because the media does not widely report on these kinds of Muslim Jewish sympathizers who, unlike their counterparts, would be able to live peaceably side by side with Jews, as reasonable and civilized people. Conversely, the inhabitants, of the prospective two-state solution, an absurd concept that is still being promoted, would happily kill all of their Jewish neighbors, because they do not share Salam or Ali’s viewpoints.

But there are others who do. Dr. Zuhdi Jasser, a former U.S. Navy lieutenant commander, Cardiologist and physician of internal medicine, whose broadcast, “Reform This!” can be heard on The Blaze, spoke about how “Israel, our greatest ally was attacked heinously and barbarically on October 7th, causing people to realize that…a vacuum was filled by evil.”Jasser was not ashamed to support Israel’s right to defend herself “against the genocidal charter of her enemies (his words).

Perhaps, one of the more surprising voices was that of veteran journalist and Republican candidate Dalia al-Aqidi, who hopes to unseat the rabidly antisemitic Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, someone who has never had a kind word for Israel or Jews. Al-Aqidi considers herself to be a strong supporter of Israel, whose “views are contrary to that of most Arab Americans.” Offended by Omar’s antisemitic sentiments, al-Aqidi “launched her campaign, because she feels strongly that the people in her district should not be represented by Omar who has voted against a House resolution supporting Israel in its conflict with Hamas.”

As a self-proclaimed lover of America, one of al-Aqidi’s greatest regrets is that she wishes Americans could understand the great difference between “being a Muslim and being an extremist.” Since she fled that kind of oppression, she says that the last thing she wants is to experience it yet again in the U.S. by her own people.

Luai Ahmed is another Muslim who is not ashamed to publicly support Israel. Ahmed, a columnist and influencer, says that extremist Islam seeks to permeate and dominate every area of life and thought with no room for anything else, especially modern civilization. Consequently, it’s the mentality, imported by many Muslim immigrants to the West, hoping to change it. Yet he, like al-Aqidi has run away from that kind of oppression and does not want to see it spread further. Ahmed supports Israel and the freedoms that are so hated by radical Islam. So, he believes that Israel is at the forefront of this war, fighting for everyone worldwide.

The last thing anyone would expect from a Muslim is an article entitled, "Wanted: Palestinian Leaders Who Will Condemn Terrorism," but that is exactly what Bassam Tawil, writer for Gatestone Institute International Policy Council expressed. He asks the painfully blunt question, “Why would Israel – or anyone else- trust any Palestinian leader who considers Islamist murderers, rapists and baby-killers as ‘part of the Palestinian national, social and political fabric?”

Tawil says that after nearly four months, following the most heinous acts committed, “It is still hard to find any senior Palestinian Authority official who is prepared to condemn the atrocities.” Calling a spade, a spade, he refers to the policy implemented by Palestinian leaders, who reward terrorists as “Pay-for-Slay.” 

Understanding the extreme Muslim mentality better than most, Tawil, considered a Palestinian scholar, has repeatedly warned the Christian community of the threat of radical Islam. Even back in 2015, he wrote that “Palestinian Christians were being intimidated by Palestinian Authority security forces in the West Bank ahead of Christmas.” 

Reminding everyone that more than 160 Christians were murdered in coordinated attacks by Islamist militant groups which took place between December 23-25, he asks, “Where were the pope and other Christian organizations, one wonders when Christians living under the terrorist group Hamas, an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, were being systematically targeted and persecuted. 

Maybe the question is rhetorical because it’s likely that Tawil knows that he will not get an answer. But isn’t it good that he’s asking it because the silence really says it all. The lack of response by the pope, in calling out the demonic influence of these radicals, who kill in the name of their god, is a clear dereliction of duty, on his part, so we’re grateful for those who are willing to do so. 

Other such brave souls who support Israel, referring to themselves as Muslim Zionists, include ex-Muslim Afghan journalist Nemat Sadat, Pakistani former radical Islamist Ed Husain, Egyptian former militant turned author Tawfik Hamid, Pakistani American author and journalist Tashbih Sayyed and Bangladeshi journalist Salah Choudhury. Other pro-Israel advocates are Irshad Manji, Salim Mansur, Enes, Kanter, Abdurraham Wahid, Mithal al-Alusi, Kasim Hafeez, Abdullah Saad Al-Hadlaq, Asra Nomani and Khaleel Mohammed.

While this is not an exhaustive list, it is some of the more well-known examples of Muslims who are willing to call out vile acts perpetrated by their people and recognize the destruction and carnage it always left in its wake. May their voices be amplified before a world that needs to be able to equally recognize and condemn the profound evil that has been unleashed from the depths of hell.