Share
Email
PrintEllison: Reach out to CAIR
The first American Muslim in the U.S. Congress called on Jewish groups to engage with a controversial American Muslim body. “If CAIR is willing to talk, talk to CAIR,” Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) said of the Council on American Islamic Relations in his address Tuesday to the Reform Movement’s Consultation on Conscience conference in Washington. Ellison was answering a question; most of the speech focused on his positive impressions of Israel and the Palestinian areas during a recent tour. The address was his first speech to a national Jewish group, and Ellison emphasized that he does not share all of CAIR’s views. CAIR is among the harshest critics of Israel, and in the 1990s defended Hamas, the Palestinian terrorist organization. It has muted such support since the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, but still will not condemn Palestinian terrorist attacks as it does attacks by al-Qaida.
Click to login and write a letter to the editor or sign up for the Daily Briefing.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Featured Content
Need to know? Get JTA's free e-newsletters!
- Citing Palestinian conflict, rocker Cat Power cancels Tel Aviv show
- Jewish groups praise Obama contraceptives compromise
- Holder: U.S. urged Israel not to release killers of Americans
- Turkish FM: We will never endorse striking Iran
- Israeli missile defense test a ‘milestone’
- Sarkozy: Iran solution should be non-military
- Marines’ SS photo condemned by Jewish groups
- Grandson of Auschwitz survivor takes the ice for Germany
