Former Foreign Service Officer
Washington, DC
Joined September 2010
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Richard retweeted
.@toddrichman, you ask: "What does it mean to embrace Jewish people and Jewish traditions while rejecting the Jewish people's 4,000 year connection to the land of Israel and Zionism?"
The idea that there's a 4,000 year old Jewish connection to Zionism is absurd. There's an ancient Jewish longing for Zion. From the days of the Talmud until the late 19th century that was accompanied by the insistence that the restoration of Jewish kingdoms in Zion would be left to messianic times. (See Ketubot 111a). Which was why Zionism--a largely secular movement that aimed at the restoration of Jewish sovereignty (or at least cultural autonomy)--was initially opposed by Jewish religious authorities as a violation of Jewish law.
If you want to claim that Zionism was and is good, that's a different argument. But claiming that it's an ancient Jewish belief is historically and religiously illiterate.
Listening to @AbdulElSayed on @Morning_Joe, two statements stood out as serious warnings for the Jewish community and the U.S.-Israel relationship. I’m not even sure how he can clarify these remarks, because he stated his positions so clearly.
First, he has moved from opposing U.S. military aid to @Israel to calling for an end to all arms sales to Israel.
What would that mean in practice? Israel continues to face existential threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and other armed groups. Ending arms sales raises serious questions not only about Israel’s ability to defend itself, but also about its access to the weapons and technologies that support its defensive systems and have helped protect at minimum tens of thousands of Israelis from being killed over the past three years.
So now it’s his official policy: This has never been just about foreign aid. It is also about Israel’s ability to defend itself. And such a policy could have two devastating consequences for America: 1. Leave our most important ally in the the Middle East, the Jewish state increasingly vulnerable to those seeking its destruction. 2. Force Israel to turn to countries that are not aligned with the United States for the weapons it needs to survive. Both would be terrible outcomes and disastrous American foreign policy.
Second, El-Sayed spoke of separating “Judaism and the Jewish people and Israel.” I have heard him speak about growing up surrounded by a Jewish community, attending bar and bat mitzvahs and Passover Seders, and having many Jewish friends. Yet he also makes clear his opposition to Zionism.
His remarks reminded me of a conversation I had a few months after the war began. I was part of a group of Jews and Muslims who came together to see how we could rise above the divisions and find common ground. One member of the group expressed a sentiment strikingly similar to El-Sayed’s: “I grew up in a Jewish neighborhood. I went to a hundred bar and bat mitzvahs. All my friends were Jewish. I’m not antisemitic. I’m just against Zionism.”
That conversation has stayed with me because it raises a fundamental question: What does it mean to embrace Jewish people and Jewish traditions while rejecting the Jewish people's 4,000 year connection to the land of Israel and Zionism? It is a narrative that must change.
For decades, elements of the pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel, BDS, and delegitimization movements have worked to drive a wedge between American Jews and Israel, while seeking to marginalize those who publicly support the Jewish state. The statements above are used to make Jews feel uncomfortable in settings.
One can disagree with Israel's government, oppose its policies, and criticize its leader s without denying the Jewish people's history, identity, or connection to their ancestral homeland of Israel.
Richard retweeted
Five Arabic phrases for starters:
1. Inshallah: God willing
“Abdul will win, Inshallah!”
2. Alhamdulillah: Thank God
“Abdul won, Alhamdulillah!”
3. Mashallah: What God has willed
“First Muslim senator, Mashallah!”
4. Yallah: Let’s go!
“Abdul! Yallah let’s win this!”
5. Astaghfirullah: Seek God’s forgiveness
“Did you see Vance’s tweet? Astaghfirullah!”
Richard retweeted
Thank you again, @MarioNawfal, for another fascinating discussion on how the U.S. midterm elections and Israel’s election results could shape the prospects for further escalation between Iran and the United States. The political landscape may be changing, but the risk of another military confrontation remains very real.
#iran
#iran
🇮🇱🇮🇷🇺🇸 Netanyahu could be DAYS AWAY from losing power, but he may still have TIME TO PUSH Trump into another war with Iran.
I spoke with former Israeli intelligence official Danny Citrinowicz as Netanyahu's political future became increasingly uncertain.
Israel's opposition is working on a deal that could put Gadi Eisenkot in power, and Danny believes Netanyahu has almost NO viable path to forming another government.
But there's something that worries him.
Netanyahu could see another war with Iran as his last chance to create a national emergency, pull opposition leaders into a unity government and save his political career.
And Trump's crushing midterm defeat has made the situation even more urgent.
Danny believes the window for another American strike could close once the new Democratic-controlled Congress takes office in January.
We also discussed a rather disturbing consequence of the Iran war.
Danny thinks the conflict may have STRENGTHENED Iran's hardliners and pushed Tehran closer to considering nuclear weapons.
Another bombing campaign, he argues, could make that problem even worse.
But what surprised me most was his assessment of Israel itself.
Danny believes Netanyahu's attempts to undermine the election results pose a greater immediate danger to Israeli democracy than another confrontation with Iran.
And he thinks replacing Netanyahu could be the first real opportunity to change course.
@citrinowicz
Richard retweeted
"Do you believe that leaders have a responsibility to challenge the extremist views within their own religion?"
Sara Haines's question to the first Muslim senator on The View today.
When was the last time you saw Chuck Schumer asked to challenge extremist Jews, or Ted Cruz asked to challenge extremist Christians?
This is what an Islamophobic double standard looks like.
Richard retweeted
Trita Parsi on Abdul El-Sayed winning his Michigan Senate race: "We have entered a new era. You have a person who's running for the Senate, wins, and in his victory speech, he says that Israel is doing a genocide and it's an apartheid state, and he gets applause."
Richard retweeted
I spoke to @declassifiedUK about the Zionist origins of terrorism in the Middle East, and explain why I firmly believe that sooner or later this evil ideology will be defeated.
youtu.be/6P9kxT7DhIM?is=p6aB…
Richard retweeted
As a CNN anchor, does Jake Tapper attempt to represent everyone? No. He represents Zionism and Islamophobia and anti-Arab racism. Is he concerned with Palestinian, Arab and Muslim viewers? No. He attacks them. Because he’s a racist obsessed with whitewashing Israel’s crimes
“The point of winning power is to deliver for everyone.”
@NYCMayor @ZohranKMamdani masterfully handles Tapper’s latest Israel bait.
Richard retweeted
“The point of winning power is to deliver for everyone.”
@NYCMayor @ZohranKMamdani masterfully handles Tapper’s latest Israel bait.
Richard retweeted
Abdul El-Sayed on Israel:
You're still talking about apartheid policy in the West Bank. You're still talking about a genocide, but nobody wants to say that.
If I stand up and say, "Hey, maybe we shouldn't be sending our money to do the worst things to other people," people are like, "Well, it must be because you hate the people who are doing the worst things."
I'm like, that's insane. It's actually insane.
Richard retweeted
MSNOW: What is your message now to Jewish voters nationally and what you will do to protect them?
Abdul El-Sayed: I’m committed to Jewish safety, and we are united against discrimination. The U.S. spends billions to carry out genocide and apartheid against Palestinians. The genocide in Gaza with our complicity is continuing right now. Nobody wants to talk about that.
Richard retweeted
El-Sayed: "I just pointed out the fact that constitutionally he's obligated to swear me in. And he did go to Ohio State University, which of course is a lesser university than the University of Michigan."
Richard retweeted
Gaza is not hopeless. Despite Hamas’s entrenchment in the 30% of the Strip it still controls, its defeat is achievable, regardless of clichés like “you can’t kill an idea” propagated since October 7. During speaking events with veteran Israeli journalist Nadav Eyal (@Nadav_Eyal) at Ohio State University and with community members, I challenged the notion that Gaza’s people and Hamas are one and the same. Most Gazans oppose Hamas, even if they retain anti-Israel sentiments. Their anger and disillusionment with the armed “resistance” narrative offer an opening for an alternative nation-building agenda that ensures Gaza never again becomes a citadel of isolation, hate, violence, and Islamist terror.
With a newly elected Congress whose members speak extensively about Gaza and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, radical pragmatism is essential: make a difference, not just a point. Cooperation with Israel, especially if a new coalition emerges after its elections, will be key to transforming Gaza’s prospects. The first step is to establish Hamas-free zones and communities across the “Yellow Line,” in the Israeli-controlled parts of the Gaza Strip, and begin separating civilians from Hamas. Meaningful progress is impossible while the group holds two million Palestinians hostage and uses them as bargaining chips.
Thank you to Nadav Eyal, Ohio State University Hillel, and everyone who organized and attended these events for engaging in difficult but necessary conversations, even amid disagreement.
Richard retweeted
Dear Israeli friends. Here's the view from New York. Like many of you, I want nothing more than to see Netanyahu gone. But this is not nearly enough. After the huge win by the Democrats here, some people (Lapid, etc.) are posting that, basically, "if we get rid of Netanyahu and just smile more, close our mouth when we eat, and explain things better to our American friends, all be well." It will not. Until and unless there is a dramatic change in Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank, and a serious commitment to a Palestinian state, nothing will change. Our current policies are ugly. Lipstick won't help. You don't believe me? Just wait a couple of months.
Richard retweeted
I want to tell you a story about my brother Abdulrahman Mohamed El-Sayed. In the midst of his campaign, he got wind that a member of our family was writing a cover letter. He looked at it, made edits, even called to give advice. The best man I’ve ever met is headed for US Senate.
Richard retweeted
El-Sayed: "When you see the world from my vantage point, there are always a few small minded people who speak very loudly and claim to speak on behalf of everybody else. But they don't spend much time talking to everybody else because most everybody else sees them for who they are. So they talk amongst each other and they get louder and louder and louder."
Richard retweeted
I lost five pounds and got five years younger watching this.
This video completely broke me—I’m sitting on my couch sobbing. The way they go from celebrating Talarico’s win to realizing Gina won too… it’s so fucking beautiful 😭🥹😭 #ElectionNight #TexasPolitics