Brigitte Gabriel

Opinions are like………noses. Everyone has one. As someone whose life has been greatly impacted by Israel, I am an outspoken supporter and advocate for Jewish issues and Israeli security. My outspokenness creates a few storms now and then.

With the Internet amplifying publicly voiced opinion, comments can be swirled around through instant e-mail communication seeding the most dark and foreboding storm clouds. Most of the sleet, hail and lightening I get comes from the Jewish community… usually after I have said something extolling their virtues. Most remarkable was my statement at a Duke University counter Palestinian Solidarity Movement rally in 2004 where I said the difference between Israel and the Arab world “is the difference between civilization and Barbarism.” The comment went worldwide. The president of Hillel apologized to the Arabs and Palestinians up one side and down the other.

I recently was asked my opinion about Barack Obama and boy what a tempest it has caused. And this time the maligning from my Hebrew friends comes for pointing out that a presidential candidate has deeply troubling connections to an anti-Semite? So?

The adverse precipitation came last week from the United Jewish Communities (UJC), who took strong exception to my answering question posed by a woman about Barrack Obama. The UJC’s published comments, headlined by some as “slamming” Brigitte Gabriel, cast doubt on my legitimacy and my efforts to support the Jewish nation and fight the rise of Islamofascism. I think you will find, as others have commented to me, that they are doing a disservice to one of Judaism’s ally in its fight as a people and Israel as a nation.

Here are the facts.

I was honored to be the guest speaker at the West Palm Beach Lion of Judah’s luncheon on February 4th in Florida. My presentation, like many I have given to Jewish Federations in both Canada and the US, as well as countless non Jewish organizations and churches, focused on the humanitarian qualities of Israel who rescued my family and other Christians from the Jihad against us by Muslim extremists in civil war torn Lebanon. I warned the audience about the rise of Islamofascism throughout the world and here in America. I encouraged them to get involved, support the Lion of Judah and make a difference. The 350 women present gave me a standing ovation. After lunch and the Q&A they bought up every available copy of my New York Times best seller, “Because They Hate.” I felt no hostility or heard any derogatory remarks during the greetings and exchanges of encouragement given me while signing 200 books.

That was the good part.

It was during the Q&A that a woman asked my opinion as to whether or not Obama was anti-Semitic, her words. Knowing how sensitive political issues are considering my audience, I prefaced my answer by saying, “I want to make something very clear before I answer this question. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat. I am an independent who came to this country as a fresh slate and was not raised in a home in America that influenced me to vote either Republican or Democrat. So my answer to you will be as a terrorism expert and not as someone who is trying to influence you about any party.” I then repeated what I had said at a similar Federation event in Boca Raton the previous week.
I discussed Obama’s long association with the controversial Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr. of the Southside Chicago Trinity United Church. Obama has frequently referred to Wright as his ‘spiritual adviser’. Wright has peculiar Black Racist, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic views. Wright’s Church magazine, The Trumpet, has honored Nation of Islam Minister Louis Farrakhan, promoted anti-Israel divestment efforts, and visited Libyan strongman, Mummar Ghaddafi.

My view is supported by the following facts:

The Trumpet honored Minister Farrakhan at a banquet for his devotion to “truth.” The magazine quoted Obama’s “spiritual mentor,” Rev. Wright, as praising Farrakhan for his “astounding and eye-opening” analysis of the “racial ills of this nation,” a “perspective” that is “helpful and honest.”

Minister Farrakhan, who regularly calls Jews “bloodsuckers,” said in a March, 2007 Al Jazeera interview:

“The real anti-Semites are those who came out of Europe and settled in Palestine, and now they call themselves the true Jews, when in fact, they converted to Judaism.”

On January 15th, Senator Obama publicly distanced himself from the comments of Minister Farrakhan. Obama asserted:

“I decry racism and anti-Semitism in any form and strongly condemn the anti-Semitic statements by Minister Farrakhan.”

Even with Obama disavowing the Farrakhan award by his Church’s magazine I take great exception that he did not take the ultimate step of leaving Pastor Wright’s church and continuously supports him.

I appreciate what ADL executive director Foxman said in an interview with the Jewish Week:

‘This must be just a first step. He’s distanced himself from his pastor’s decision to honor Farrakhan. He has not distanced himself from his pastor. I think that’s the next step. One can now expect from Sen. Obama that he confront his minister. Ultimately, said Foxman, if Obama is unable to influence Wright to alter his stands, I think he has an obligation to leave.”

Conveniently, about the same time in January, Rev. Wright announced his ‘retirement’ from his Trinity Church pulpit in May of this year.

My opinion as to Obama having anti-Semitic views and characteristics is further influenced by the fact that Mr. Obama employed and still employs Nation Of Islam members and Farrakhan followers on his staff; his positions on the Israeli security fence; his comments on Yasser Arafat.

Coming from a highly sensitive viewpoint concerning the future and safety of Israel in a sea of worldwide anti-Israel bias, propaganda and media negativity, I see no difference between anti-Semitic and anti Israel. I see them both in the same. To your western ears, anti-Semitic may seem a harsher term by which it appears I am being judged.

In my opinion actions speak louder than words. It is important to watch what people do instead of what they say because talk is very cheap especially when you are raising funds and running for president! We are who we associate with. If Obama did not agree with his pastor he wouldn’t be praising him as his mentor. There are very troubling things in Obama’s past, present and his affiliations that he must answer and clarify. However that is just a relative issue compared to the real concern about Obama’s wanting to meet with the avowed Holocaust denying enemy of Israel, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to address his “grievances.”

My remarks in both Boca Raton and Palm Beach are my own and while not representing the views or policies of the Federations should not be used to malign my message of anti-Islamofascism and pro-Israel support in the eyes of world Jewry. Shame on those who are using the auspices of the UJC in crying foul for something contrary to their personal politics. It is not lost on me that Rep. Robert Wexler (D-FL), whose district covers part of Palm Beach County, is a national surrogate in the Obama campaign. So perhaps both the Palm Beach Federation and national UJC didn’t want to appear supportive of my views because it might offend Rep. Wexler and ultimately Sen. Obama.

The JTA article quoted me as saying: “Obama was an anti-Semite. No Jews should support him. Jews should vote for Hillary Clinton.” These sentences, which appear as a direct quote, are simply a sloppy cut and paste job of statements I made about Obama and Clinton at two different events.

Were my criticisms of Sen. Obama off the mark? Am I raising pertinent questions that the Jewish community needs answers to? Witness these comments from American Jewish Committee (AJC) executive director David Harris presenting the views of South Floridians with whom he had recently spoken concerning Obama:

What are his relations with Wright? Why does he have former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski (viewed as cool toward Israel) on his foreign policy team?

Harris went on to say:

“You could sum up the concerns as ‘does Obama feel Israel in his kishkas? ” Harris commented using the Yiddish word for guts.

“And does he have the steel and spine for the tough moments or believe diplomacy is the be-all and end-all of international relations?”

Such worries have surfaced in Israel, where Danny Ayalon, a former ambassador to the United States, has described Obama’s candidacy as cause for “concern.”

I am concerned as well. What should have been a positive outcome to my appearance at the West Palm Beach Federation event has been yanked from the hands of the local federation’s control and spread as a negative across the world. From 350 attendees to millions. Now even more can continue asking the questions I and director Harris have raised. Meanwhile the topic has been converted into a slanderous campaign against me by certain factions of the left wing of the Jewish press. In effect, a messenger in support of Israel is being unfairly and gratuitously maligned for my straightforwardness. I have and will always have my antennae up about issues that may adversely affect Israel and homeland security.

Since 2003 I have done much to support Israel: speaking at Duke on the Eve of the Palestinian solidarity convention, speaking at Columbia concerning problems by Arab professors against Jewish students, going on television defending Israel during the war between Hezbollah and Israel, creating and mobilizing a national grass roots organization to stand with and defend Israel, and writing a New York Times best seller, the first one by an Arab pro Israel changing hearts and minds of non Jews and gathering support for Israel throughout the world.

To let all the above go unnoticed; to bad mouth and condemn someone who is laying her life on the line while Israel has few friends; and to stand up and support the Jewish people is such a shame. And being “slammed” is the return I get simply because someone asked for my personal opinion about Obama?

I am glad to say that since this Obama brouhaha, I have received three different invitations from Jewish organizations across the country in less than a week.

The Jewish leadership of the UJC and JTA went out of their way to publicly malign the only pro Israel Arab/Terrorism Expert with such media reach. Last year I reached over one hundred million Americans with my pro Israel message as a non Jew, something not one Jewish organization has even come close to.

With actions like these from the Jewish leadership is it any wonder why the Arabs and Palestinians were able to re-write history while the Jews failed miserably in the PR department.”

Brigitte Gabriel is the best selling author of “Because They Hate”, Middle East commentator and founder of American Congress for Truth

American Congress for Truth