Joe Kaufman, a Shillman Journalism Fellow at the David Horowitz Freedom Center, is Chairman of the Joe Kaufman Security Initiative and the 2014, 2016 and 2018 Republican Nominee for U.S. House of Representatives (Florida-CD23).
The pendant on the chain that Orlando, Florida Muslim activist Rasha Mubarak wears around her neck is of the map of the state of Israel. She wears it during photo ops. It is evident in authorized cartoons of herself. It is a vile gesture, as Mubarak considers Israel to be an illegal entity that is actually called “Palestine,” the former designation of a larger territory that existed prior to Israel’s independence in 1948. The pendant and Mubarak’s bigoted declarations regarding the Jewish state have been completely ignored by leftist politicians and their media cohorts, who embrace Mubarak as a legitimate colleague. It is time for them to recognize Mubarak’s activism as nothing short of flagrant anti-Semitism and sever their ties with her.
There have been numerous examples of politicians and media allowing themselves and their images to be used alongside that of Mubarak. In the latest example, last month, a virtual meeting was held on Zoom, featuring Mubarak, Democrat Florida State Representative Dotie Joseph, Democrat Candidate for US Congress Jen Perelman, and Law Professor Nadia B. Ahmad. The organization sponsoring the event was Our Revolution, a group working to elect Progressive Democrats and pushing Socialist-minded issues for America.
Previous to this meeting: Mubarak had multiple appearances on Central Florida’s Channel 13 SPECTRUM NEWS to do political analysis; Mubarak was appointed by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer to his Committee on Multicultural Affairs, which she still sits on today; and Mubarak was named National Committeewoman for the Florida Young Democrats (FYD), and she continues to hold the title.
Given Mubarak’s lengthy history of targeting the Jewish community with hate and terror, this acceptance of her is extremely troubling and dangerous.
Mubarak is offended at the very notion that Israel has a right to self-defense. In May 2019, when Hamas launched more than 600 rockets into Israel, leading to the deaths of four civilians, Mubarak tweeted against anyone who would dare defend Israeli retaliation. They included former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, and the producer of The Ellen Show, Andy Lassner. In February 2013, Mubarak flippantly posted on Facebook that US diplomats mouth the words “right to defend itself,” regarding Israel, “when they snore.” And in November 2012, she tweeted, “#LiesImTiredOfHearing Israel has the right to defend herself.”
Mubarak has exhibited her own support for Hamas. At the end of the 2014 Israel-Gaza Conflict, along with photos of a jubilant Hamas, who had bizarrely just declared victory, Mubarak tweeted, “Thousands of people celebrating in the streets of Gaza for the victory. Alhamdulillah. #VictoryForGaza.” After continued Hamas rocket attacks against Israel, in November 2012, she tweeted, “Don’t worry ya Gaza, we’re working hard for you in Florida,” emphatically adding, “Yes we are!” Mubarak has, as well, promoted material from Hamas-related media, and she has personally been affiliated with the Hamas-linked groups CAIR and Islamic Relief.
And it has not just been about vilifying Israel. In September 2013, Mubarak ridiculed Jews, themselves, after a report came out claiming Orthodox Jews had asked the Israeli government for “beard-friendly gas masks.” The call for new masks was over legitimate concern that Syria might retaliate against Israel following a US military intervention of Syria and that normal masks do not accommodate a lot of facial hair. The US military has dealt with this same issue with its own bearded troops. About the report, which featured the side profile of an observant Jew with a long beard and side curls, Mubarak mockingly wrote, “Seriously? No seriously! Ufff… Lol…”
Mubarak has organized anti-Israel events that have devolved into the worst of anti-Semitism, where Jews, themselves, have been labeled “terrorists” and “baby killers.” She has gotten the Democratic Party to co-sponsor these hate fests. She even convinced then-FYD President Jake Sanders to co-host a live-streamed video discussion about BDS. An uncomfortable moment occurred, when Sanders declared both he and Mubarak “believe in a two-state solution”; she quickly corrected him saying she does not. Sanders let it go, never once realizing his name, position and Jewish ethnic background were being used the entire time to criticize Israel.
When will Democrats, like Dotie Joseph, Jen Perelman, who is Jewish herself, Buddy Dyer and Jake Sanders and television outlets like Channel 13 SPECTRUM NEWS understand that they have become ‘useful idiots’ to Mubarak’s bigoted anti-Semitic cause?
Rasha Mubarak is using the Democratic Party and its cohorts in the media, in order to cultivate and promote an agenda of insidious hate. It is time for the Democratic Party members and leadership to stand up to Mubarak and tell her that she is no longer wanted or accepted anywhere within the ranks of the Democratic Party. And it is time for those in the local media to stop considering Mubarak a legitimate voice for issues concerning the community.
Legitimizing Mubarak is legitimizing anti-Semitism, period.
Beila Rabinowitz, Director of Militant Islam Monitor, contributed to this report.
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