Rabbi explains why CAIR doesn't condemn Hizbullah and Hamas

Rabbi Arthur Waskow recently attended a CAIR dinner. In the course of an article for the Philadelphia Jewish voice he accuses CAIR's critics of McCarthyism and seeks to counter some of the event's unfavorable press coverage. In the following passage he clears up a little misunderstanding:

. . . there is one outlook of CAIR's that has led to criticism. CAIR strongly condemns terrorist actions, but not whole organizations.

To many American Jews, its unwillingness to make a blanket condemnation of Hamas or Hezbollah seems contradictory, if it really opposes terrorism --- because most US Jews, and the US Government, define Hezbollah and Hamas as simply terrorist groups.

But CAIR points to the complex reality in which both groups are simultaneously woven of strands that include social-service organizations with schools and medical clinics, etc.; political parties; friendship groups and ethno-religious communities; police forces; and military / terrorist agents. Much of the non-military parts of this complex, in both organizations, meets real needs on the ground, and much of it is woven into Palestinian or Lebanese society.

Indeed, there is considerable evidence that inside Hamas, at least, there are different sub-groups with competing views and policies about terror and violence. Careful ethical challenges to the use of terror could actually help strengthen the peaceful forces. So CAIR's view is that to condemn the whole organization outright, as distinct from specific terrorist actions, is to demonize all its parts instead of trying to peel away the disgusting actions that CAIR does oppose.

To me this view roused some interesting echoes of my own criticisms of parts of the so-called Left that attack Israel --- the whole society or its whole government --- instead of condemning specific aggressive and oppressive policies and actions of the Israeli government.

Perhaps there is some way to condemn specific actions while naming, but not condemning, the organizations that are partly involved --- as I do when I condemn particular actions of the Israeli government, naming it while not attacking the government as a whole. [...]

Crossposted on Soccer Dad

Tags: CAIR, Hamas, Hizbullah