Arabs For Israel
Encyclopedia
Arabs for Israel is an organization composed of ethnic Arabs who support Israel
and Middle East
peace. The group was founded in February 2004 by Nonie Darwish
, an Egyptian-American Muslim
-born Christian
. The group believes that “We can support the State of Israel and the Jewish religion and still treasure our Arab and Islamic culture”.
Darwish maintains there are Muslims in America who speak out against terrorism and are pro-Israel, which are shunned by the organized Muslim community and cannot speak in mosques.
When asked why she started Arabs for Israel, she said "to support Israel doesn't mean being anti-Arab. I love my people, but for peace to happen, we need a big leap, a new attitude; forgiveness and compassion." Darwish further said that she is afraid Israel will give away too much territory, making the country too small to defend. She concluded that "My Arab people are beautiful people, and I pray to God that they will find forgiveness in their hearts."
The positions of Arabs For Israel include the acceptance for the existence of the State of Israel, a legitimate state that is not a threat but an asset in the Middle East
. The group further states that "Every major World religion has a center of gravity. Islam has Mecca
, and Judaism
has Jerusalem." The group says it is not "Anti-Islam, Anti-Arab, confrontational or hateful."
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
peace. The group was founded in February 2004 by Nonie Darwish
Nonie Darwish
Nonie Darwish is an Egyptian-American human rights activist, and founder of Arabs For Israel, and is Director of Former Muslims United. She is the author of two books: Now They Call Me Infidel; Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror and Cruel and Usual Punishment: The...
, an Egyptian-American Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
-born Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
. The group believes that “We can support the State of Israel and the Jewish religion and still treasure our Arab and Islamic culture”.
Darwish maintains there are Muslims in America who speak out against terrorism and are pro-Israel, which are shunned by the organized Muslim community and cannot speak in mosques.
When asked why she started Arabs for Israel, she said "to support Israel doesn't mean being anti-Arab. I love my people, but for peace to happen, we need a big leap, a new attitude; forgiveness and compassion." Darwish further said that she is afraid Israel will give away too much territory, making the country too small to defend. She concluded that "My Arab people are beautiful people, and I pray to God that they will find forgiveness in their hearts."
The positions of Arabs For Israel include the acceptance for the existence of the State of Israel, a legitimate state that is not a threat but an asset in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
. The group further states that "Every major World religion has a center of gravity. Islam has Mecca
Mecca
Mecca is a city in the Hijaz and the capital of Makkah province in Saudi Arabia. The city is located inland from Jeddah in a narrow valley at a height of above sea level...
, and Judaism
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
has Jerusalem." The group says it is not "Anti-Islam, Anti-Arab, confrontational or hateful."