Arabs For Israel

Poem by Iraqi poet Alaa Alsaegh

2011-09-27T17:13:00.000-07:00

Cries From The Heart of the Holocaust (in Arabic):

British Muslims for Israel

2011-04-04T14:50:00.000-07:00

An Email for Nonie

2010-04-17T20:35:00.000-07:00

Hi Nonie
I was so suprised to read some of the Emails from Muslims on your Blog.
I read a lot from the Jewish side and then the ones from Muslims and Arabs. I would have at first thought that there would be nothing but insults and death threats, however I was touched and moved by some of the support that we have from the "other" side.
Can I just say firstly that I think what you are doing is courageous and wonderful. Furthermore I would like to use this forum to Hold out my hand in Friendship and love to those in the Muslim world who dont hate me just for being born a Jew.
We are all sharing this World together, we share the same History the same Root, From Abraham (Ibrahim) and we all worship the One G-d. The rest is just indoctrination and propaganda.
I pray for Peace and the end to Death and war.
With Love
Jeff

A Letter to Gaza

2010-04-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

I recently received an email accusing me of hating Arabs and my father. This email is typical of Arab media accusations of my views regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict. Since most Arabs have no chance to read my book, Now They Call Me Infidel, Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror, which explains in detail my position, I will answer the email in this article. First, below is the translation of the Arabic language email which I received without a signature:

Salam to you,
With all of our pride in your father we pray that Allah will bless him with entering paradise, which is the wish of every person after this short prideful meaningless life. I want to ask you, has your father become your enemy after his death? We in the city of Gaza take pride in your father and I live on a street by the name of Shahid Moustafa Hafez which also has a school by the name of Shahid Moustafa Hafez. We never forgot his sacrifice, so how could you become an enemy to the tortured Palestinian people who are still suffering at the hands of Arab Zionists? I ask Allah to give you health and strength.
Awaiting your response and thank you in advance.

Here is my response:
Dear Gaza resident,
Your email touched me as sincere even though your accusations are wrong. I am not the enemy of Arabs and I assure you that I love my original culture and people. What makes me different is that I do not only love Arabs, but I also love the Jewish people. I am speaking my conscience. I respect their right to live in peace in their tiny homeland, Israel. I understand how that could be puzzling and unbelievable to many Arabs, to love both Jews and Arabs.
We Arabs have suffered from an unnatural and consistent indoctrination into Islamic supremacy and Jew hatred for over 1400 years. Thus it has become unfathomable to the Arab mind to comprehend loving both Arabs and Jews and wishing both well. Our culture has deprived us for many centuries from loving all of humanity as equals, through intense religious indoctrination resulting in self-imposed isolation and non-integration with other cultures. This isolation and jihad against non-Muslims has become increasingly difficult to maintain. Muslims everywhere are trying desperately to save face, reform Islam’s image and deny the undeniable. But they also want to have their cake and eat it too. While they are telling the world Islam is a religion of peace, they still want to continue with the jihad against non-Muslim countries. While one leader says, let’s kill all the Jews and take over Rome, another says to Western media that Islam is a religion of peace and we are deeply offended by the anti-Islam rhetoric. To play his sick game, Muslim culture must live a dysfunctional double life where everyone is deceived, including Muslims.
Thus to do the kind of jihad that Bin Laden, Ahmadinejad, Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood, Assad, Nasser, Saudi jihadists etc, do and which is dictated by Sharia, Muslims find it hard to be honest. Thus, Muslims must claim victimhood in order to justify jihad. The entire Muslim world is using your people, the Arabs of the West Bank and Gaza, to justify their jihad against not only Israel, but also all non-Muslim countries. That includes Iran, which supports Hamas and Hezbollah.
Your people in Gaza should have realized this game a long time ago, but you refuse to see and be open about who is your true oppressor. Arab and Muslim media is using and abusing your people in order to justify their Islamic jihad around the world. That is why they never want to resolve your problem and want you to suffer and live in constant terror against Israel.
Under Islamic law, non-Muslim countries are never equal to Muslim countries and actually their sovereignty as a non-Muslim nation must always be challenged by Islamic jihad. Islamic law codified jihad as a permanent war with non-Muslims to establish the religion. Muslims thus have to use Taquiyya, lies, to legitimize their aggression on Israel and the West. That is why Muslim countries can never abandon the constant hate propaganda, lies and misinformation about Israel and the West. If that ends, their jihad ends. The UN must be constantly bombarded by complaints from Arab countries against Israel. The Arab street must be constantly bombarded with ridiculous accusations and Zionist conspiracies. Lately on Syrian TV a Syrian intellectual accused Israel of stealing human organs in Haiti while they were helping them after the earthquake. This is not something new; it started in the 7th century, when the prophet Mohammed accused the Jews of treason to justify killing and expelling them and taking over their wealth. To explain this away, he stated that Jews are worthy of this treatment since they are the descendants of apes pigs and enemies of Allah. Muslims still use the same dynamic and the world still falls for it every time.
The Arab mind was trained to never venture outside of the box of Islamic superiority, and that prevented us from treating the rest of humanity as equals. It is alien to Muslim preachers today to preach love to all of humanity and wishing non-Muslims the same human rights as Muslims. I have never heard that from a Muslim preacher. Only after 9/11 and in the West today, do we see some Muslim preachers trying to preach some Western values and engage in interfaith dialogue, in order to rehabilitate the image of Islam in the West and attract more converts.
I often get mail from secular Muslims who ask me: I can understand that you chose to leave Islam, but how can you support the Jews? I get mail like this because, in the Muslim mindset, loving, accepting and feeling good about Jews or Christians and thinking of them as equals, is unthinkable and an act of treason to Islam itself and even worse. It is as though the whole religion of Islam is dedicated to hating and killing Jews.
After centuries of this kind of education, the Muslim world produced a dysfunctional society, unable to relate to the rest of the world. While wanting to convince the world they are a religion of peace, do not be afraid of Islam, they are still hell-bent on conquering the world for Islam. That is Islam’s dilemma today.
What I, and a few others, are trying to do is to bring the truth to both Muslims and non-Muslims to finally face this sick game. We want to encourage Arabs to look at Jews and others as human beings and not as enemies to conquer. What kind of God will tell his followers to kill more than half of humanity if they don’t submit to Islam? The Muslim world today is a disaster waiting to happen. Ahmadinejad, who is not an Arab, wants to continue the Islamic jihad against Jews by destroying Israel. I have news to especially the Left in Europe and America: Islamic jihad will not end with Israel; you will be next.
To my email writer: in your letter to me, I have noticed that your outlook on life is pessimistic describing it as short and meaningless pride. Your views are prevalent in Muslim culture and I have heard it thousands of times when I lived in the Middle East. I remember even when we laughed and giggled as young girls, we were immediately silenced as being improper and that Allah somehow does not like us to laughing for no reason or in public. Even a heartfelt laugh to a Muslim was not going to get you friends, but critics. Your message to me and to Muslims is that life on earth will not get us happiness and the only escape from such misery is the everlasting happiness in the pleasures of Allah’s paradise after dying in jihad. But why take the Jews with us? They want to live and enjoy life and to make the earth, right here, a better place.
Our rejection of life is not a coincidence: since jihad does not value life, then it must value death. The first casualty of the jihad principle is peace and that is why I never learned peace as a value in Gaza. I have never heard a peaceful song in Arabic. To think of peace with the Jews is equal to treason to Islam. Rejection of peace has detrimental consequences to the healthy functioning of the Arab personality, family, society and the whole region. It is not a coincidence that Saudis reject under the law any celebration of Valentine’s Day, reject celebrating love between a man and a woman, teaching peace and compassion to their children towards the others. Just look at our Islamic law books and see the most cruel and unusual punishments ever created in any culture on earth. Only a culture that demands war and terror can promote such cruelty.
As to your question about hating my father, again I want to assure you that I adore and respect my father more than all of the people of Gaza. Actually I love him and wish him heaven not because he killed Jews, but because he was a good human being who was respected by many including the Israeli soldiers who killed him. He was known even to Israel as a cut above his peers and had integrity and honor. My father was the victim of the blood-thirsty culture of death all around him. He is one of the many thousands and even millions of victims of the jihad ideology, practiced over the last 1400 years.
Dear Gaza resident, yes, I cannot blame the Jewish people, or the government of Israel, for what you call the ‘misery’ of the Palestinians. I can only blame Arab and Islamic culture which used and abused you and which you allowed. I believe that this is an Arab self-inflicted crisis that has nothing to do with Israel.
Arab education has never told us the truth about the Israeli people and the story from their side and what Jerusalem means to them. We were told that Jerusalem was a Muslim city simply because Mohammed dreamt one night that he went to the farthest mosque but he never mentioned Jerusalem. The Koran never mentioned Jerusalem, which is mentioned hundreds of times in the Bible as the heart and soul of the Jewish people. We as Muslims never respected other religions holy cites and always claimed them to Islam; even Spain and India are being claimed as Muslim land. It was the tradition of Muslim conquerors to convert churches and temples to mosques and that is exactly what happened to the Jewish Temple Mount when 100 years after the prophet Mohammed died, Muslim conquerors built the mosque right on top of it. Just imagine if Jews or Christians had built a temple on top of the Kaaba in Mecca. This is how Islam has treated the Jews. It is time for Muslims to seek redemption and forgiveness and to extend the hand of reconciliation and peace to the Jewish people.
Nonie Darwish
Author: Cruel and Usual Punishment; the terrifying global implications of Islamic law.
http://frontpagemag.com/2010/04/15/dear-gaza-resident/

Letter in Response to Princeton Incident

2010-01-06T04:47:00.000-08:00

Dear Ms. Darwish,
After the incident at Princeton University, I decided to buy and read your book “Now, They Call Me Infidel” to find out just what was so “offensive” that the Muslim student body didn’t want to hear. Apparently, Princeton University doesn’t want to risk offending its Muslim students but doesn’t mind offending visiting Christian speakers; something they should be deeply ashamed of!In any case, I found your book extremely informative along with giving insight into what living in an Islamic society is really like, not what we are told. The book also carries with it a very powerful message; namely your journey from hate and jihad into love and compassion. Most of the facts that you stated in your book, I have verified by many other sources so I know that they are absolutely correct.I quite agree with your conclusion that Islam must be reformed by moderate Muslims if Islam is to become a respectable and acceptable religion here in America and elsewhere. As you stated, it must: (1) renounce and condemn terrorism in any form officially and publicaly either through a “fatwa” or some other means, (2) the penalty of death for apostasy as stated in both the Koran (I have read this also) and Sharia law must be removed. I know of no other religion that officially prescribes such a harsh judgment merely for leaving it.However, my biggest concern is the proliferation of mosques in our country apparently bankrolled by Saudi Arabia. Since westerners are not allowed into any of these mosques (assuming that we understood Arabic which most of us don’t), we have no way of knowing what messages are being given to each local Muslim population; are they of peace and reconciliation or are they merely a repeat of messages of hate and jihad that you experienced in Egypt? Your experience in California strongly suggests the latter and, if so, this is a very scary prospect and will have serious repercussions for us as a country somewhere down the road unless something is done about it.In any event, both my wife and I wish you well in your efforts to educate the rest of us as to the nature of both “Islam” and “Radical Islam” and the important difference between the two. May God Bless you, your family and your work.
Dick Wetherald
Hopewell, New Jersey USA

More Recent Letters

2009-08-13T07:41:00.000-07:00

Posted by Travis Nasser to Arabs For Israel at August 12, 2009 7:48 PM:

After browsing this website and reading all the articals and overall content of this website, I am just flattered to see that there's more people in the Arabic community besides me that embraces the state of Israel and treasures the culture of Jews and their beliefs,heritage and society. I was born and raised in the US in a Lebanese American household, I always had Jewish friends and family always had Jewish friends, it's just too damn bad, 10,000 miles away, our brothers,
our youth and even our children in the Arabic/Islamic world are brainwashed and bullied into harboring mindless,and blind hatred going so far as to resort to suicidal terrorism to please totaliariam and over-zeolous fascists.

On Sunday, July 19, 2009 03:48 AM, Anonymous wrote:

Dear None,
Thank you alot, I am from Gaza Strip but i am not Muslim i am Christian live in gaza, i hope to be friend to israel

Recent Letters

2009-08-02T07:30:00.001-07:00

March 13, 2009 6:05 PM
Anonymous said...

Hello Nonie,I am proud of you,I am not moslim or jew ,I am catholic but I feel totally in love with jewish people and their homeland Israel,they defend our west values and without them everything will be a little darker in middle east.
I have to admit too that I am surprised to read all these polite and nice comments from Arabs and muslims,it´s a pity there is no more moslim people like you all over the world.
A big hug for you Noni,and all my respect and my neverending love to jews and good people all over the world.
Melanie.

April 8, 2009 4:13 AM
moussaelmoussaoui said...

hello nonie,many Arabs in africa support the project " Arabs for israel " of peace and coexistence with israel, and recognize the legitimate state of israel.
el moussaoui moussa(morocco)

April 9, 2009 7:19 AM
Anonymous said...

Dear Nonie, and all the wonderful Arabs (and others!) for Israel,

May God Bless you all and may the day come soon, when we can all, Moslems, Christians, Jews, Bahais, Druse, Hindus, etc., live in peace and harmony in the Middle East and all over the world.

An Israeli-Jewish mother and grandmother

April 19, 2009 9:31 AM
Anonymous said...

Dear Nonie, as a person who was born and raised in a hospitible,caring,compassionate, Lebanese American household, I am greatly
pleased that there are voices from Arabic and Islamic networks, that are combating hatred and bigotry against our semitic brothers the Jewish people and support for their state of Israel.
Also as a son of a devout Roman Catholic father, and mother, I was always raised to respect other religious and spiritual beliefs, so intolerance for Jews is just irrellevent, because first of all our Prophet Jesus was a devout Jew his whole life and so were every prophet mentioned in the Bible,not just from a religious perspective am I against blind hatred , but also as a family-oriented human-being.

May 7, 2009 10:46 PM
Anonymous said...

Dear Nonie,
Thank you for providing this web site. As a Lebanese-Canadian who supports Israel’s right to exist, I am glad to see that many other Arabs also feel this way. The Middle East needs peace. The Arabs need a neighbour like Israel that is role model of liberalism and democracy.
May 19, 2009 1:40 PM
Fred Maroun said...

I recommend a recently published book by a Palestinian-Canadian and an Israeli-Canadian who both live in Ottawa. The book is "Light Behind the Darkness" by Raouf Omar and Claude Weil. In this book, the authors talk about personal stories where individual Arabs experienced the kindness of individual Jews, and vice versa. It is a very moving book. It can be purchased through chapters.com.

June 12, 2009 9:22 AM
david said...

from sudan

hi there .. I respect your efforts ..
but last time I supported israel in the internet , telling my personal information , I was arrested from my house in khartoum (the capital )and I was beaten for 7 days , my body was crushed like hell , I was studying pharmacy in a university , a lot of academic problems were infticted to me there ..I changed my religion long time ago but I can never tell anyone for fear for my life , my dad is very rich CEO of a super mega company in a gulf arab country , he didn't support me when I told him and inflicted problems for me ( including financial sanctions) , and by the way he is not different from the majority of millions of people here , most of muslim people in sudan think israel should be deleted and happy about what happened in 9 11 ,when a woman here were stoned to death (by "low") for infidality all of them said it was right -they should say so because this is the punishment for infidality for married person according to the share'a low-

I am afraid we people here in arabs for israel need alot of work ...

June 23, 2009 10:44 AM
david said...

hi there ..

thak you for pulishing my previous post ,I would like to continue about the stoned woman
and in fact I didn't get it because every women I saw while in prison was raped daily several time by happy policemen - and by the way many of them were very very beautiful ! -
but you know what , I do get it about the rapes in darfur you know why ? because also according to share'a low when the army of jihad invade a nation , women can be taken as ( sabaya , the singular : sabyia) = slaves -by the way share'a had never banned slavery but says it's good to free (your) slaves !!! , if you commit a sin according to share'a you should fast or feed a hungry person or pay someone to free one or more of his slaves ( fakko raqaba = releasing a neck) !!!
from anthropological perspective andalosia in spain was a wonderful civilization , but the big question is : what gave muslims the right to invade and occupy spain in the first place ?!!

lord knows how european sabaya will look like ,
very very beautiful definitely

June 24, 2009 7:25 AM
Anonymous said...

I am an American born Muslim of Lebanese and Iranian descent, and I want you to know that I support the state of Israel. I do not support any killings from anyone on either side; but I do believe that the intelligent, humanitarian Jews have Israel's best interest at heart and that they want to live in peace with others who live in their country. I think Islam needs a major overhaul so that the people are not so ignorant. Wake up Muslims!! I am tired of being attached to a bunch of primitive loonies. I heard something years ago and it never resounded so true as now: Islam is perfect, Muslims are not. Please wake up and think! Stop being blind sheep and following things in the religion that have been warped. God created us to use our intelligence, so just do it!

July 15, 2009 5:07 AM
Anonymous said...

I am fifteen years old and I live in the U.S. I watched "Obsession,' and was angry when I saw how schools are taught. I admit, I cried when I saw the children reciting the poetry, and later, holding guns (even if some were just toys). How someone could teach a child to hate that much is beyond me and truly appalling. When I saw the people dancing and celebrating the attack on the twin towers, I became distraught. So many people lost their lives, and so many families were left mourning the death of their loved ones. I can't begin to understand how someone could be so happy about the death of another human being.
I fully support your wish for peace, and I hope to become a respected writer like you. You have inspired me to stand up and show the world what I believe, and how I believe. I am a Christian, and I am proud of my religion. Thank you for standing up and showing the world that there is an alternative to war. God bless you, and I hope you live a long, fruitful life. I pray for safety on your family and success in your movement.

Support from Jordan

2009-07-08T19:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Ms. Nonie,

I heared you through BBC TV and I respect your ideas and I believe in them. I want to help but I do not know how. It is my pleasure to be a member in your team and to give you all my support.

Our world will be a better place because of people like you. We need people who think differently to make the necessary changes. Most people in our Arab countries do not agree with your ideas and they are ready to fight your ideas, but most people who change our world faced the same situation, do you know Galileo, that great man who tell the world that the earth revolves around the sun, when I heard you on BBC I said this is our Arab Galileo, and believe me we need many and many Galileos to change many things in our life as Arabians.

I am a good reader for our history and for the other history, I know our true history but the problem is that most of our people did not know the true history; also I know the Jews history butunfortunately most of our people did not know anything about them, I shocked when I knew about the Jews suffering during the second world war and I cried when I saw the pictures showing how much the suffer they faced.

I visited many countries during my life and I cried when I saw how big the distance between East and West, we have much wealth we have much petrol we have much money but unfortunately we have also much failure and much retardation.

Our problems are not only with Jews but more importantly with ourselves, our mind, and long held destructive beliefs. We need a revolution in how we think. We need peace within ourselves first and then peace with Jews and the rest of the world will follow.

Peace is very important for the development. Best regards.

Mohammad Atwa

A German In Shock

2009-02-15T11:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Ms.Nonie:
Researching the Hassan case of Buffalo I incidentally stumbled over a link to you. I freely admitthat I was really shocked, almost paralyzed, while roaming your website. I hadto stop working as it was just too thrilling to read and read and read..... At one point I suffered a laugh attack, namely when you are saying in an oldinterview that you had received a letter calling you a pig and a monkey :) well, this would be truly a zoological anomaly he he he ... There are so manyimbecile people out there, it´s scary. But:
What a wonderful feeling toknow that there are people like you! I am praying for your well-being andyour safety, now and always.
Warm regards
Dominik
Cologne, Germany

FoxNews.com Video: Tarek Fatah, Frank Gaffney, Robert Spencer and Nonie Darwish

2009-02-10T19:32:00.001-08:00

FoxNews Strategy Room: Heather Nauert explores Islamic Fundamentalism within the United States
with Robert Spencer, Frank Gaffney, Tarek Fatah and Nonie Darwish

Click here to view: The Strategy Room: Tue, 10 Feb 2009

Hope, Change and Peace

2009-02-10T05:52:00.000-08:00

Yes, There ARE Arabs for Israel
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dear Nonie,
Thank you for your courage and work. I am an Arab and Muslim and would like to express a view please.
The decadence and decline of the Arab world has started 900 years ago, there are no signs of improvement, however, there is hope. The salvation from this stagnation is the revival or the renaissance of Eretz Israel. It is Israel who will save the Arabs from obscurantism and the Arabs must act now before it is too late and give up hating, mistrusting and seeing the Jews as aliens. Israel!! A land of people who rose from their ashes. A phoenix of people who will bring enlightment and prosperity to the Arabs. The process may be difficult and painful but it is just as painful for the Jews to see so much suffering.
"One has to be cruel to be kind". How can we help the Arabs surmount the obstacles of their beliefs and prejudices and help them see the Jewish nation as the closest nation to us spiritually, linguistically, culturally and ethnically. Don't the Arabs know that the Jews are closer to us than Persians or Kurds or Turks? Jews have always been part of the Near East in particular and the Middle East in general. Don't they have the right to aspire for a homeland or should they just accept to live as second class citizens in foreign countries. Why is it acceptable for Arabs to persecute and kill other Arabs but when Israel act in self defence they shout "indignation"?

Yours sincerely.
Aisha Obeid

Video: What Life was like under Muslim Rule

2009-02-09T20:40:00.002-08:00

Excellent history AND a frightening insight as to what life was and would be like under Muslim rule.

Click here to view: The Forgotten Refugees

Dispelling The Myths

2009-02-09T20:40:00.001-08:00

Dear Nonnie,

Thank you for your reply. How can one help one billion of Muslims understand that Koran is not a sacrosanct, infallible book? How can one explain to them how much Mohammad was inspired by Judaism during the time he spent in Judea before the birth of Islam. The new ideas took to his land of birth were great and transformed radically the pagans and the region. We tend to glorify the Muslim ideologies (not original at all) instead we should take an objective and critical look at Islam, Mohammad and Koran.
What impact did the new religion have (and continue to have) on the monotheists of the region? Was Islam as tolerant and just as the Muslim like to believe? I hate to think of the indignations and the fear the people of the near east endured after the spread Islam.
Yours sincerely
Aisha

Who Are We?

2009-02-09T20:23:00.000-08:00

We are Arabs and Moslems who believe:

We can support Israel and still support the Palestinian people. Supporting one does not cancel support for the other.
We can support the State of Israel and the Jewish religion and still treasure our Arab and Islamic culture.
There are many Jews and Israelis who freely express compassion and support for the Palestinians. We Arabs also express reciprocal compassion and support.
The existence of the State of Israel is a fact that we accept.
Israel is a legitimate state that is not a threat but an asset in the Middle East.
Every major World religion has a center of gravity. Islam has Mecca, and Judaism certainly deserves its presence in Israel and Jerusalem.
Diversity is a virtue not only in the USA, but would be beneficial around the world. We support a diverse Middle East with protection for human rights, respect and equality under the law to all minorities, including Jews and Christians.
Palestinians have several options but are deprived from exercising them because of their leadership, the Arab League and surrounding Arab and Moslem countries who have other goals besides seeing Palestinians live in harmony with Israel.
If Palestinians want democracy they can start practicing it now.
It will benefit Arabs to end the boycott of Israel.
We can resolve our conflicts using non-violent means. Sending our young people on suicide/homicide missions as a form of Jihad is a distortion of Islam. We can do better.
We are appalled by the horrific act of terror against the USA on 9/11/2001.
It will be better for Arabs when the Arab media ends the incitement and misinformation that result in Arab street rage and violence. We support the Arab media providing coverage of ways that people of all religions are and can live together in harmony.
We are eager to see major reformation in how Islam is taught and channeled to bring out the best in Moslems and contribute to the uplifting of the human spirit and advancement of civilization.
We believe in freedom to choose or change one’s Religion.
We cherish and acknowledge the beauty and contributions of the Middle East culture, but recognize that the Arab/Moslem world is in desperate need of constructive self-criticism and reform.
We seek dialogue with Israel. We invite you to join us on a path of love.

We are NOT:

Anti-Islam, Anti-Arab, confrontational or hateful.

We remember with deep sadness and respect the brave Arabs, known and unknown, who were killed or severely punished for promoting peace with Israel; a special thanks to President Anwar Sadat of Egypt who was killed at the hands of Militant and Radical Islamists after he signed the peace treaty with Israel.

We salute and commend Arab and Moslem writers, scholars and speakers, who found the strength, commitment and honesty in their hearts to speak out in support of Israel. We thank you for being the pioneers that you are and for holding such sophisticated and advanced views in the realm of Arab and Moslem thinking. You are inspiring us all.

Contact / Support Arabs For Israel

2009-02-09T20:19:00.001-08:00

To make a donation to Arabs For Israel, click this button:

2008.01.01: Arabs For Israel is in the process of incorporating as a NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

For speaking engagement bookings, contact:

nonie@arabsforisrael.com

Italians for Israel

2009-02-08T17:13:00.001-08:00

Time to buy more Italian wine...!!! and travel to Italy to support this.
Fiamma Nirenstein, a journalist and some-time resident of Jerusalem, is a new Member of the Italian Parliament who is outspoken on Israel's behalf. She writes below that there is increasing understanding of what Israel is facing in its current war against Hamas.

Dear Friends,
We didn't expect what you see in this picture. This is the square of the Italian Parliament in Rome, Piazza Montecitorio: You can see the Palace on top of the square, and in front a lot of Israeli flags. That was last night from 6,30 to 9,30 pm. What you cannot see here, is the extraordinary number of members of Parliament, about 100 from all political sides, that took the stage during this time: for about three hours we were speaking about the role of Israel, its right to self defense, its moral height, its fight on behalf of us all, of our civilization and values, against the wild hate of the Islamic jihad represented by Hamas.

It seems to me that for the first time in the too long history of the Arab/Israeli conflict, apart from a minority of crazy leftists and fascists that took the street with anti-Semitic slogans, we have achieved a huge consensus on one critical point: this is not a local conflict, there is nothing in it that reminds us of a peace theme that has characterized the Palestinian issue. This is an attack against the western world, and Iran is behind it.

The change of attitude is great: the terrorist and religious nature of Hamas and the democratic, civilized nature of Israel are seen face to face for what they really are at least by the European elite at large, dead and wounded notwithstanding, and there rises an identification with Israel against a regime that uses human shields and promises slaughter of Jews in its charter.

What happens today, at least in Italy, is the defeat and fall of the leftist ideologies: ideology that has allowed justification of all the most violent crimes and most disgusting verbal attacks. If Arafat launched the terrorist Intifada, if he promoted the martyrdom of children in public speeches, the ideologists were ready to justify him with the issues of occupation, the Palestinian misery and loss of any hope. Not so with Hamas.

History, in Italy, has brought to a profound crisis the ideology of revolution and the justification of any cruel attack against a so-called unjust imperialist order. That time is over, nobody will see Hamas as the resolution of the problem and not even as the problem itself. I think that the word "peace" has lost that healing meaning that it once had. The new non-ideological point of view sees that there is no peace when one of the contenders doesn't want it, and that even if the world in the short run asks for a truce, in the long run it hopes for the defeat of Hamas.

Last night, many people, Ministers and Members of Parliament, composed a very new, interesting mix of opinions. I think that when you are not overwhelmed by exotic thirdworldism, the images of children educated as hate machines, the speeches of jihad leaders, from Ahmadinejad to Nasrallah, to Hanje, that deny the holocaust and promise death to Jewish and Christians alike, you are left only with disgust. Westerners, thank God, can still be disgusted by uncivilized levels of political speech.

But most of all, in the Parliament square, many of the Parliament Members said: "I love Israel".
You can't imagine how many.
Fiamma Nirenstein

No Arab land is occupied by Israel

2009-02-08T10:20:00.000-08:00

No Arab land is occupied by Israel

Dear Nonie,

I have just finished reading your book "Now They Call Me Infidel" which I happened to have borrowed from a friend. You have blessed me a lot through this book, As a Born - Again Christian I have been looking at the Israel/Palestinian conflict through the Bible but it is also great to know that someone from the Arab decent can give us an insight about the conflict like you have. I am African and I have seen quite a lot of the Arab culture you have written about being practised amongst the Muslim population of my country and I remember up until the Present President came into power, the Muslims in my country were quite illiterate despite having a school built by the American, they seemed not to have sent their children to school rather to madarasas and girls stayed home until about 14 years and then married off. But they have now come up and my country is somewhat democratic so they are now fully participating in life and marrying whom they love. So am going to buy a couple of books to send to friends back in Africa, so they can be as blessed as I have been. I also just wanted to share with you this new clips from one of our local newspapers they echo all that you have written about:

No Arab land is occupied by Israel

I believe with you that

the Arab countries can taken in all the Palestinians and they would have no problems assimilating
Those who choose to state in Israel should want to live in peace and renounce violence
Teaching hatred of non Muslims should be stopped

Psalm 122:5 - 7
God Bless you.
With Love from
Olive

Archive of Emails from Jews

2009-02-08T09:40:00.000-08:00

Honoring Egyptian and Arab Jews

Arabs for Israel appreciates your love and good memories of living in Egypt and other parts of the Arab world. I salute you for holding no hate or anger. I salute you for rising above the mistreatment and expulsion from your homeland in the Middle East and very often penniless. Your letters touched my heart and I wept over your humanity. What a loss for Arab countries! May God bless you and reward you for all the pain you had to suffer.
Nonie Darwish
Check the website named the "Historical Society of Jews from Egypt" or www.hsje.com

A Taste of Peace

Posted December 21 2007

**The following narrative is an excerpt from a presentation Eliane Markoff made to the Wayland-Weston Interfaith Action Group.*

Eliane Markoff *writer*

The drive to the hotel in the back seat of the taxi was peaceful and calm, unlike the region we were visiting. My husband and I had just arrived in Jerusalem, a place like no other, more a state of being than just a city. I had only visited twice before. As a young child Israel was off limits to my family, although every relative of mine yearned to visit.

Shukri, our taxi driver, was Arab. Looking out the window, I felt nostalgic and thought of Cairo and Alexandria, the places of my youth. My family was expelled after the Six Day War when I was twelve. Now I desperately wanted to remember the goodness in those with whom I had spent my early years. I needed to believe in the possibility of reaching across those years to reconnect with my past.

Breaking the peaceful silence in the taxi ride I asked Shukri whether he knew of a good Egyptian restaurant close by. He was surprised by my question. I told him that I was born in Egypt, and that I wanted to taste a dish called "Mollokhaiya." He hesitated a moment, collected his thoughts, and with unexpected enthusiasm responded, "I don't know any Egyptian restaurants in Israel, but my wife makes the best Mollokhaiya. You are welcome at our house for lunch anytime to try it." We were stunned by his response. He knew we were American and had to know we are Jewish. Accustomed as we were to media reports of conflict, hatred, and violence in the area, we wondered whether he was sincere.

The following Wednesday, my husband and I and a journalist friend of ours piled into Shukri's immaculate Mercedes and headed for his home in East Jerusalem. During the drive we saw an Arab village, a sight few tourists in Israel see. He pointed out certain homes that were "occupied," not owned, by Israelis. Shukri's home was situated only a few hundred feet from the controversial wall separating East Jerusalem from the West Bank. With some sadness in his eyes, he pointed out that many of his family members remained on the other side of the wall, and though he could visit them whenever he wished, they could not reciprocate.

Every member of Shukri's large family greeted and welcomed us as we arrived at the entrance to his home. I was moved and for some reason I was reminded of the Sadat and Begin embrace. The children smiled, and Shukri's wife's face communicated, "thank you for allowing me to prepare a meal for you."

Lunch was delicious. Shukri's wife did indeed make excellent Mollokhaiya, as well as many other dishes. After our meal, the conversation with Shukri, his friends, and family members inevitably turned to Israel and politics, and it became emotional. The discussion centered around the notion that every person, Palestinian and Israeli alike, wants to experience peace.

Then the conversation shifted to the subject of the "shaheed," a word that means martyr. Americans translate the word to mean suicide or homicide bomber. We spoke about the pain that parents endure with the loss of a child. I shared my own story of losing a child and told them how difficult it was for me to believe that a parent, especially a mother, could feel honored to lose a child as a shaheed. And even if it were true that the parents express gratitude immediately after their child makes the ultimate sacrifice for Allah, I said I wondered how they feel years after that child's death. Shukri's mother held my hand and explained that no parent knows in advance the plans of a shaheed. She implied that families are forced to say what their political leaders tell them to say under threat of retribution and loss of the promised compensation. Something inside of me felt comforted hearing this from a Palestinian grandmother.

As I sat in Shukri's living room conversing in my broken Arabic, I understood my real motivation for visiting an Arab family. Of course there was a sense of excitement, novelty and curiosity in making this trip. But I now understand that what I wanted was to experience the values and beliefs of Arabic families, to know that they hold similar feelings and needs as American, Jewish and other families around the world who experience a tragic personal loss. My journey represented an attempt to connect with the Arab world, to counter the negativity and hatred about that world which I hear and read about daily in the media. I concluded, possibly for selfish reasons, that Palestinian parents, who feel the pain for their own children, must hold empathy for other parents no matter their religious, national, or ethnic background. Perhaps our host saw us as rich, self indulgent Americans, or viewed the invitation to lunch as good business, but I prefer to think that Shukri reached out to us as a genuine expression of his desire for peace - for himself, his family, his people, and most especially his children. In opening his home to us he gave us a rare glimpse of his reality and truth. His mother held my hand and prayed for peace. His wife gave me a tissue as I spoke my late daughter Rachel's name with a tear in my eyes. Shukri's mother blessed my daughter's memory and said a prayer for the health and happiness of my family. Our lunch with Shukri and his family was brief, but it was long enough to whet our appetite for the taste of the peace that might be. Shalom and Salam.

Beautiful!

Posted November 28 2007

Dear Nonie,

I hope you don't mind me addressing you so familiarly, but after having read your book, I feel very close to you. I've been wanting to write to you for so long, but my heart was so full of things to say, I didn't know where to begin. I still don't, but I'll try anyway.

I'm a haredi (Orthodox) Jew. I grew up in America and settled in Israel over a decade ago.

First of all, it is clear from your book that you are truly full of love for every human being in the world regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. It is very rare to find a person like you who combines such love with real justice and truth. May G-d bless you and your noble efforts, and may He protect you from your enemies, and grant you success, health, and a long, fulfilling life.

I believe that your courage and dedication to truth will save lives all over the world. As one who lives in Israel, I am personally grateful to you for whatever you manage to do.

I became very emotional when reading the beautiful e-mails from Arabs. Thank you so much for giving them a voice. Even the most liberal parts of Western media do not let us hear what the friendly Arabs have to say. Only you.

The Torah says, "His (Abraham's) sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him..." For centuries, Jewish sages have said that this verse indicates that Jews and Arabs will ultimately have peace. I believe that you and those who support you are part of this process, may it come soon.

Please don't pay any attention to your critics whether they are religious radicals or secular liberals or anyone in between. You are a beautiful, courageous, caring, truth-seeking person. And you are right.

With love and admiration,
Esther

Message of peace and courage

Posted November 16 2007

Dear Nonie,
I was browsing your website at work and had to stop reading halfway through the arab emails because I could not repress my emotions. My father is Jewish and was born in Tunisia. My father's family had to leave Tunisia in the 60's, even though they were living there for centuries. I lived in Israel for a couple of years and I have to say that until I read your book, I thought there was simply no hope. Your book, your website, your speeches give voice to a wave of love and hope for the middle east. I wish, and I urge arabs to speak up against the dark ages of radical islam. When I read emails on your website coming from places like Pakistan, or Iran, I can't help but start to hope again! You have no idea how good the feeling is. I long for peace and togetherness. I have been so touched by your story. I can't find the words to thank you enough. Not only for the hope that just started again for me, but for the message of peace and courage that you give. You truely are an exceptional human being.

Thank you.

S. Spindel
New York, NY

Life is to short to be consumed by hatred

Posted September 2 2007

Dear Mrs. Darwish and Arab/Muslim friends,

I am a 27 year old Jewish man from Holland The Hague. I am a member of the orthodox Jewish congragtion here. Reading through the ´´Arab´´reactions about Israel I became happy. A overwhelming feeling of brotherhood came over me. I have always thought if we could settle our problems and work together we could make the Middle East flourish! I do not and I know many Jews do not feel any hatred or negative feelings towards Arabs or Muslims what so ever!!

Life is to short to be consumed by hatred....from both sides.. My wishes are that as many people as possible speak out and be positive about peace and reconciliation. We have to look to the future..

Salaam Aleikum, Shalom Aleichem..

Alexander L.Y. van der Linden

Nonie: G-d Bless You On Your Magnificent Book

Posted November 29 2006

Dear Nonie,

I hope you don't mind my addressing you by your first name since I feel that I almost know you personally, after having read your book. I am a Jew who was born in the San Fernando Valley and lived there until I made aliyah (immigrated to Israel) 20 years ago. I pre-ordered your book from Amazon.com, received it last week and read through it practically in one sitting! Your story is one of the most moving I have ever heard. I am amazed how you were able to overcome your natural feelings, having lost your father to an Israeli security action and yet come to love Israel just the same. I was particularly affected by your description of addressing Selma's Hadassah meeting and how you were impressed that the Jewish people, who have suffered so much in history, have not let themselves get wrapped up in the rage and self-pity that have unfortunately infected so much of the Arab/Muslim world, as you so clearly describe in your book. I am what is referred to as a "right-wing National Religious" Jew of the type that is often denounced by the world's media as "extremist" because I support Jewish rights to live in Biblical/historical homeland of Judea/Samaria, but having read your book, you have given me renewed hope that somehow, at some time in the future, Jews and Arabs can eventually come together and live in peace, but it will take time and that we Jews/Israelis MUST stand firm for our rights in the Land of Israel while at the same time extending our hand in peace to those Arabs who want to live in peace among us. Running away from our Biblical destiny only feeds the flames of Islamic extremism, as we saw when Prime Minister Sharon tragically destroyed the flourishing Jewish communities in the Gaza Strip who not only gave employment to many of your former neighbors in Gaza, but also helped with their agricultural technology. All of this has been destroyed in the foolish delusion that appeasing Islamic terror will reduce it.
Your life's story is proof that the seemingly impossible task of reconciling Jews and Arabs is indeed achievable.
I pray that G-d give you , your family, friends and supporters health, happiness, long life and the strength to continue the holy work you are engaged in.

Sincerely,
Yaakov Ben-David
Rehovot, Israel

To the "Arabs for Israel" group with deep respect and warm greetings.

By Peter Rotberg

Posted November 25 2006

Dear friends and brothers in Faith and Love for the Holy Land- the cradle of 3 Abrahamic Religions and of the World Civilization.
In your friendly and good wishing address to the " Hebrews" you claim that supporting the Palestinians doesn't cancel the possibility of recognizing the legitimacy of the Jewish State and Religio and vice versa.
You also rightly state that " There are many Jews and Israelis who freely express compassion for the Palestinians " . Then you ,to my great delight , declare that " the Arabs express reciprocal compassion and support" and you continue saying that " The existence of Israel is a fact that you accept ". Here for some reasons , you don't include your brethren Palestinians into the list of supporters who explicitly accept the idea of peaceful coexistance between the Arabs of Palestine and the State of Israel.
And rightly so, because the Palestinians don't share your sincere longing for the peace and respect for the Jewish national values and aspirations . And they , especially the incumbent Palestiniakn Leadership, don't make a secret from their non compromizsng , rejectionist and militant stand on the issue.
It is also beyond our understanding ,how come that before 6 days war , while these territories ,were under a full Arab control , the Palestinians were not granted the right of self determination i.e. the right for an independant statehood.
We were witnesses of 2 great peace initiatives both carrying the same name - Camp David 1 and Camp David 2 .
Most of Israelis , including the writer of these lines, met with enthusiasm and admiration the initiative of Anware Saadat who prior to starting offitial negotiations came to Israeli Parliament - The Knesset and declared in the name of the Great Egyptian Nation his full recognition of the State of Israel and the willingness for coexistence and peace between the 2 Nations.
Camp David 2 failed shamefully although the former Israeli PM - Ehud Barak , offered the Palestinians an almost a 100% retreat from the territories in exchange for peace. In response we received 2 violennt Intifada attacks , scores of killed and maimed people and a deep disappointment and a total loss of hope on the part of many Israelis .
Nowadays the Hamass led Palestinian Leadership joins the rejectionist camp led by Iran and openly declares that they will never recognize our right of existence .
This is not our paranoid imagination of the Holocaust victims. It's a real threat to our very existence.
This is also a lack of trust , probably mutual , which is blocking the way to a real peace.
You cannpot blame only " Israeli intransigence and occupation for the present situation.
All your brothers have to do in order to also become our brothers is to follow the Anware Saadat's steps - Come and say clearly and explicitly -" We recognise you and we want to be in peace with you. And tnen you'll see that Isreali people will be with you , as we were with Saadat.

May the Lord, God Almighty of Abraham, Isaak and Jakob bless you!
Suphan Allah !

Yours
Peter Rotberg.

I knew there is still hope

Posted September 24 2006

Hi nonie,

I'm an Israeli student living and studying in Jerusalem. I came by your site through an email I got with many of your wise words.
I didn't even know such movement existed. I'm over joyed at such a thought. I knew that many people in the world no matter the race or religion felt like me and many other Israelis. To know that rational objective and hopeful thoughts resonate through the web brings me a little happiness in these troubled times.
I am a fan of diversity and I truly believe that the human race can progress endlessly if we all learn to acknowledge its potential and put aside all hate and prejudice.
I love the idea of different cultures and religions coexisting and collaborating together to create a better future. I believe in a Palestinian state and in preserving all cultures as a human heritage. I hate seeing the suffering in Lebanon these days. It's a prosperous country just like Israel with many things to offer to the world.
Iraq I hope is on some right track to greatness as is Afghanistan. Iran was a vibrant empire :) it even used to have relations with Israel. I know that many Innocent decent people live all over the Arab world almost powerless to do anything about the terrorists and Fanaticism using Islam as a poor excuse for their actions.
I'm not a religious man & I don't even believe in god. I do believe in the amazing human potential and the vast cultures it created over history.
The real crime is to destroy such notion.
Let all honest decent people go about their lives gaining education and knowledge to create a good and deserved future for the human race.
I'm honored by your endeavor and wish for the best.

Cohen Itay

From an Egyptian Jew

Posted July 13 2006

A few weeks ago, we got two requests, one from Al Jazeera and the other from Egyptian TV, to do a documentary on the Jews of Egypt. Al Jazeera wanted to know how we became "empowered" after being kicked out and were still able to become successful. I don't know whether any Egyptian Jews participated in the documentary but I would have told them that our secret weapon was not to teach hate, even against those who hate you, because hate and revenge are weapons of mass destruction. Our culture is to tighten our belts, roll up our sleeves and work hard for our children's future. The 80,000 Jews who were forced to leave their homes, their childhood, their friends and families, all started a new life in a variety of countries. Most of us had to work very hard for our future. We did not send suicide bombers in Cairo restaurants or markets. We did not blow ourselves up in front of a mosque in Shoubra.
x0x0x0x0x0x0

Joseph Wahed, a Jew born and raised in Egypt

a light in the dark

Posted July 13 2006

Dear Miss Nonie

I am a religious Israeli woman .I come across your site and I admit you got me by surprise! Up until now, I never met any Muslim woman who is admitting Israel's right to exist. I read some of the articles and some of the letters that some other people of Muslim believe wrote you In addition, I got really honestly and deeply touched. We, Israelis and Jews, suffer so much from Muslims terrorism and bloodshed. Pure hatred and antagonism, prejudice and hunting media, that for me to see that you and your friends exist wormed my hart And gave me some moments of lightness. Today the Hezbollah attack Israel, killed seven of our soldiers, and kidnapped two more. It seems that the war is inevitable between us. It is so sad. It is such a waste of life and more. If Palestinians really truly wanted independence, they would not make war constantly with us, they would rather make peace. The Hatred between us is going back to the times of Isaac and Ishmael. Unfortunately, it is going to continue demanding more More victims until g-o-d himself will revile him self and bring peace to the world. Than all people will acknowledge Israel's right to exist and understand the reason for its existence. Than his house will be a hose of pray for all nations, as the prophecy says. We, the Jews, never wanted to convert other nations in to our believe, on the contrary, if someone wants to convert we have to explain him That he do not have to be a Jew in order to gain eternity. Islam fundamentalist do try to force the world to believe in Islam. I am puzzled how can one think that g-o-d who gave us the freedom to choose and gives us life's ,that is the same g-o-d that wants them to kill and Slater innocent people in order to force them to believe in there own faith. How can they kill in the name of g-o-d?!!! I once asked my Rabbi what is the difference between a lei and a truth and how can I tell the difference between the too. He looked at me with his wise eyes smiled at me as his eyes were lightening: oh, .yes he said-the truth means united, love, togetherness the truth creates life! The lei are evilness, cruelty, hatred, separation, and death. That was his answer and that says it all. I thank you from being truthful and for your support of Israel. I wish you good luck and I promise you -g-o-d with pay you good in time to come, for any one who is doing good to Israel G-o-d helps him and will pay him in the ever ness world to come when the messiah will be raveled.

Thank you.
m.ramati

A HUGE THANK YOU AND ENORMOUS ADMIRATION

Posted July 1 2006

Dear Ms. Darwish,

I just watched the interview with you on channel one in Israel (with Yakov Achimeir) and I just could not stop crying out of surprise and gratitude!
You are a brave woman and I admire you for what you are doing. For years I have been wishing to hear this voice from your world. You are sooooo welcome in our midst and I really hope that more and more people will join you whole heartedly! Your true dream of an Arab Martin Luther King has touched me! You are in fact a Martin Luther Queen!!! I, like you, believe this world deserves much more than endless bloodshed and baseless hatred. I am a religious Jew and I know the Islam is not a negative religion. It has more in common with Judaism than most people think. Your action is simply incouraging me not to give up hope for a better understanding between our nations, not to give up hope for peace in our country!
I just want to tell you THANK YOU for what you are doing! I am moved up to tears by your words! May GOD bless you and be with you in all your ways, Ms. Darwish. May Jews and Muslims and the rest of the world will live as one! Let us stop imagining and start practicing John Lenon's song/draem!
GOOD LUCK TO YOU ! MAY YOU BE BLESSED!

Rachel (A young mother who hopes that her children will grow into a more peaceful world! )

From your Egyptian Jew Friend

Posted July 1 2006

Dear Nonie

You really were a breath of fresh air for me and a hope that, after all, one could be optimistic. Browsing at your website later on, I was not aware of so many Muslim writers espousing the same views as you. Somehow, somewhere, sometime, this enlightenment has to build a bridgehead in the Muslim World. I will order your book whose title I found in your website.
My family suffered a lot in Egypt following the 1956 war while I was a student in France. My father, like so many other Jewish males was imprisoned in a makeshift concentration camp, formerly a Jewish school in Cairo, and endured the humiliation of his jailers. His crime being a Zionist, though in fact he spent all his life working in his pharmacy in Giza. He spoke and wrote Arabic fluently and had many Arab friends. His crime was to have met the enemy in Cyprus. My grand mother and most of my family had immigrated to Israel in 1948 and one summer we met with my grand mother in Cyprus. Somehow, we were denounced for having met the enemy, i.e., a 70-years old woman... My father was called to the Ministry of Interior and had a "discussion" with officials, but they let him go and resume his normal activities. They , however, black-listed him. After the 1956, war, he was given the choice to leave with his family and two suitcases and leaving everything else behind. The other alternative was to face a possible trial. He took the first choice. My mother was assured that my father would be in a certain ship in Alexandria bound for Italy. At the Alexandria port, my mother met military officers who ransacked all the suitcases, looking for the gold of the Jews.... They then told my mother that they would keep my 17-year old sister since she was probably going to Israel to become a soldier... After my mother's supplications and cries they let my sister go. When they got into the ship, the Jewish "criminals" were in a cage handcuffed, and the handcuffs were removed after the ship left the Egyptian territorial waters. During all this time, I was in college in France. In fact, the last time I left Egypt was in September 1956, when I went back to France after I had spent my summer vacation with my family.... To make a long story short and "tout est bien qui finit bien", my father reopened a small pharmacy in Akko after having worked at an Arab pharmacy in Nazareth. Everyone and all the Arabs loved him in Akko. They called him Abu Zaki. In fact, last April I visited Israel and found some of his old friends, and they all called me Zaki....
The story of Jewish refugees from Arab Lands is indeed poorly known by the public. What is widely known, on the other hand, is the story of the Arab Palestinian refugees, inflated to the maximum, and accusing "the Jews" for Al Naqba and their demise. Sure, the tragedy of the Arab Palestinian refugees is heart breaking, but so is that of the Jewish refugees from Arab Lands, who by the way represented about the same number of refugees in 1948, each about 700,000. The difference is that while the Jewish refugees were resettled humanely in Israel, Arab Palestinian refugees became pariahs and pawns of Arab political leaders who wanted them to rot in refugee camps in dismal conditions for the sake of their political goals, i.e., fueling hatred into the hearts of those refugees against the Jews. I feel very strongly, paraphrasing Golda Meir, that peace between Arabs and Jews in Israel will only happen when Arabs will love their children more than they hate the Jews.
I would appreciate if you could find the time in the next few weeks about some questions I have. One of my hobbies for the past 20 years is to write Letters to the Editor and occasional Op-Eds in the Chicago Tribune mainly on the Middle East but not restricted to the Middle East. It's a catharsis for me whenever I have passionate about something or outraged about a perceived bias not only against Jews and Israel but also against Arabs in America. Once you don't care about a group, you sure will be next. Which reminds me the famous quote from Martin NiemÃ¶ller, a German pastor imprisoned in World War II: "First they came for the Communists, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist. Then they came for the Jews, and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew. Then they came for the Catholics, and I didn't speak up because I was a Protestant. Then they came for me, and by that time there was no one left to speak up for me."
About 25 ears ago, I had written an Op-Ed quoting the 2 suras that you quote where the Prophet Muhammad warns the Jews about not going to the Promised Land. I had a long discussion with a Muslim scholar who told me that later revelations or writings from the Qur'an or the Hadith Reports abolish the earlier ones. Could you please find me this quote and give me its reference and the exact wording and if possible transliterated from the Arabic?
And indeed you really find in Islamic scholarship statements that vilify Jews, calling even to murdering them and refer to the massacres of Khaibar and other areas of Arabia. As Prof. Bernard Lewis writes, Jews had a prominent position in the Hedjaz even before the Prophet appeared. The Prophet himself had good relations with Jews at the beginning and absorbed a lot from the Torah which, by the way, found its route in the Qur'an. Later on, the Prophet disenchanted with the refusal of the Jews to convert to Islam, the "true" religion, turned against them. What is your view of this concept?
I have taken classes on Islam as well as Sufism. By the way, I loved Sufism which is the poetic and mystical form of moderate Islam which finds its parallel with the Jewish mystics and the Kabbala (I am not referring to the Kabbala of Madonna....). One thing that I learned is that Islam attitudes and emulation are shaped by examples taken from the life of the Prophet and his descendants. Could you please find for me the reference that condones suicide bombers for the sake of "shahidism"? What is the so-called religious basis for it?
A few months ago, I wrote a Letter in the Tribune where I expounded on my theory according to which only parts of Holy texts whether the Hebrew Bible, the New Testament or the Qur'an are revealed by G. The parts revealed by G are easy to find: they deal with tolerance, compassion, charity, acts of loving kindness, feeding the poor, taking care of the destitute, the orphans, etc... The other parts are written by men (male chauvinists, by the way) who had a political agenda. Maybe one day I ought to write a book about it and as a result will be hated by everyone....
Nonie, meeting you and knowing that you existed was a real treat for me. You are an exceptional person. I demand, though, something from you: please be careful. The World needs heros to repair the World (Tikkun Olam in hebrew).

All the best and G bless you.
Isaac, Ytzhak, Ishaq, Zaki

Observation

Posted May 13 2006

Nonie

I read your article about the big cartoon controversy in a local jewish newspaper, which was printed to praise you on your views, and had originally appeared in the daily telegraph. I did not know who you were, so i decided to find out more.
You are to be commended for speaking out in this manner, despite the dangers you may face.
I am a jew who was born and grew up in cairo, egypt also, and probably around the same time period of which you speak in the article.
My family had suffered considerably from the hatred. My father, may he rest in peace, died, while having never recovered from the events which led to our humiliating expulsion from egypt just before the 6 day war, and the confiscation of all our possessions, including our home. Not to mention the insults we endured. You may have sung songs about "jews dogs". I was called " yahoodi kalb" and yahoodi wesech" and many time i was expelled from school for fighting back and prevailing. Now, how do you forgive a religion which still until this day, uses the same slogans and kills and beheads jews, and at the very least does not tolerate their existence, simply because they are jews?
Whether the islamic faith has been hijacked by extremists or not, the predominant expression and views of those moslems convey a message of hatred and violence and killing of other human beings. Yet, only a fraction of a minority' s views reflect the opposite and they are definitely not heard and not outspoken.
If the interpretation of a religion is embraced by the majority of its followers, then that is the religion. So if islam preaches love, tolerance and embracing of other religions then please identify an islamic country that would aplly those principles, and would tolerate other religions in their midst. Even as recently as this week, i am sure you have read about the violence against the coptic christians, in egypt, now that all the jews are gone.
Anyway, it is admirable of you to speak the way you do.
And god bless you.

Victor

Love your Website

Posted January 1 2006

Nonie,
THANK YOU. Your web site gives me hope for the future. I stumbled upon it while on the website of the Daniel Pearl foundation. I am Jewish, born and raised in the USA. I have watched the developments unfold in the Middle East with a feeling of despair. You and all the open-minded, G-d-loving Arabs who see beyond all the hatred they've been taught are truly a beacon of light to the world. More people need to hear your message of love, brotherhood and peace!!!! Keep up the great work. Thank you for spreading the truth!
Anonymous
Washington, DC

Comment on "arabsforisrael" by an Israeli Jew

Posted January 1 2006

Dear Nonie
My name is Yoav and I am an israeli jew from Jerusalem. I must admit that I came to your website, while surfing and surching the net for totally different information than I founded later on your site. So this was so called an "accident". The bigger was than my surprise, when I read the content of your site.
Let me explain a few things from the "historical" point of view. Some ten years ago I was a so called peace activist in Israel and in the Israeli peace movement, while demonstrating and fighting for the peace between the two nations. Although I always supported the two state solution I've always saw Islam and judaism as one culture although build from two different, but very similar religions. Judaism and Islam in my opinion have more common in sence than for example judaism and christianity.
At the begining of the Oslo agreement we were all in heaven and were sure, that peace has arrived. But the awakeness came in form of the horrifying suicide bombings in the city and accross the country. Personnaly I was at the scene of such two bombings' while one was taking place below of my house where a bus full of children was blown to pieces. I must admit that I at this point of time, I was confused a lot about peace and about arab and palestinian desire to achieve peace a this point of time and at this stage, although I never stoped to believe in peace and that one day al the children of abraham will leave peacefully together.
The jewish bible teaches us that when abraham died, so al of his sons, Itzhak and Ishmael, came peacefully toghether to burry him in Hebron, allthaugh there could be a struggle between the two children about land and influence. But we se that they could manage, as their father thaught them, to solve problem in peace and not in bloodshed. So this is what we jews learn in the first pages of the torah. And this is how abraham wanted us to be.
I must say that when I read your website and especially the e mail from arab readers, I started to return to my optimistic way of thinking, that peace is possible and that there are partners for peace the arab side. I gained once agin a lot of power to believe that peace is possible and I manged to bridge once agian the gap of the mistrust.
I think that the job you do is almost something holy. I wish that in future you will mange to bring your peaceful voice to more and more Israelis in order to break the mistrust I mentioned above.
Keep going and be strong.
Salam Aleykum, Shalom al Kulam (Peace for everyone)

Great Work

Posted August 13 2005

I'm an American Jewish woman and a proud Zionist who has enjoyed reading the Arab and Muslim comments of support for Israel and the Jewish people. At a time when the PLO and most Arab and Muslim regimes and leaders are waging war on Israel and the Jews, it is deeply heartening to know that a handful of righteous Arabs and Muslims are willing to express their solidarity with Israel and the Jews. I am struck by the fact that your Arab and Muslim supporters come from a wide range of Arab and Muslim countries including Malaysia, Egypt, Syria, India, Tunisia, Morocco, and the Persian Gulf region. I want your readers to know that I am a proud religious Zionist. However I completely abhor the Jewish terrorist who killed four innocent Israeli Arabs in Sfaram, Israel. This act is a gross violation of the Jewish Commitment to the sanctity of all human life, including Arab Muslim life.
This act has been strongly condemned by both supporters and opponents of the Gaza disengagement plan and Prime Minister Sharon.
In addition the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel Shlomo Amar, the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Haifa, and Israeli President Moshe Katzav visited the bereaved families in Sfaram.
In addition, I also support the struggle for freedom and justice all across the Arab and Islamic world. I support America's program to liberate the Iraqi people from Saddam Hussein's tyranny and genocide because I believe that freedom and justice are essential for the Arab and Muslim world. I feel as strongly outraged by the Saddamists and al Qaeda terrorists who are murdering Iraqi democratic politicians, children, Shi'ite clerical leaders, and soldiers as I do by the bus bombings in Israel and the Arab terrorism against Jews in Judea, Samaria, and Gaza.
In addition I have spent much effort contemplating not only Saddam's genocide against Shi'ites and Kurds and moderate Sunni Arabs but also thinking of ways to support Iraqi democracy. The day when the Iraqi nation went to the polls on January 30,2005 was one of the happiest days of my life, along with April 9, 2003 when the Iraqis toppled the Saddam statue.
Perhaps I should mention that Mithal al Alusi, a Sunni Arab politician, suffered the gruesome murder of his two sons Jamal and Ayman on February 8,2005 in Baghdad because Mr. Al Alusi had visited Israel the previous October and advocates Iraqi ties with Israel.

Mr. Al Alusi has continued to support Israel and the Jewish people in spite of this horrific crime against his beloved sons.
His courage is an inspiration to me, and I am deeply affected by this atrocity against him.
I also support the struggles for freedom which are taking place in Lebanon, Libya, Iran, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and all across the Arab and Muslim world. I am happy that Lebanon was able to vote and reduce the Syrian occupation against it but worried by the continued presence of Syrian intelligence agents in Lebanon as well as the power of Hizbollah. I support the Iranian people who are struggling to overturn a brutal Islamic regime that suppresses women's rights as well as basic human rights. I support Akbar Ganji and hope he is released before he dies of his hunger strike. In addition I support the three Saudi democrats who were recently released from prison because they called for greater liberty in their country. Even in highly repressive Syria and Libya there are movements toward freedom led by brave people who are risking their lives for freedom. Fathi al Jahmi of Libya faces prison and torture that threatens his life for his human rights work. I also salute Saad Ibrahim and Ali Salem for their struggles for democracy and peace in Egypt.

Sincerely,
Rebecca

Shalom from NYC

Posted August 7 2005

Dear nonie,

Shalom!
i don't know where to start, i want to thank you a zillion times for this beautiful site, i was browsing the net looking for something that connect the jews and muslim religion, i was hopping to find something but never dreamed of finding this beautiful site. i started reading your site found my self addicted to it and couldn't stop reading, it took me 6 hours till i finally realised its almost morning and i lost a good night sleep, but it was worth every minute, the next day i woke up and first thing came back to your site to read more, i just cant get enough of it.

i am jewish living in the USA, i had the urge and was curious about islam starting 3 years ago, sometimes after september 11th, i read the Quran and find it very confusing, many beautiful peaceful verses while other verses just fricked me out, very confusing, however, reading your site helped me a lot in understanding Quran a bit better, i enjoyed so much reading all the e-mail's from the arab muslims around the world, tears of joy!
i want to take this opportunity and thank all the arab muslims who came forward with their love and understanding to the jewish people and israel. i love you all.

thanks again.

Shalom, Salam to all

The Global Campus

Posted June 12 2005

Dear Nonie,
My name is Karen *******, I am an Israeli (Jew).
I came across your website through a link from Hopeways, and read your stories and articles.
I am very interested in Islam and am looking for ways to learn the simple everyday things of Islamic people and customs. 6 months ago I joined Jalal, a Moslem from Jaffa, and together we are trying to create an organization for multi-cultural youth in Israel. We are established as a non-profit organization. (I am attaching our manifest). This "relationship" is very intrieging for me. This is not a romantic relationship in any way (we are both married, I have 2 kids he has 3, and I am 8 years older). I have some difficulty in understanding his ways, and often joke with him that I wish their was a "manual" so that I could understand better and not tread on open saw's. I have made some mistakes in this relationship, mistakes that of course were not made on purpose, and not out of lack of respect or any intention to heart, but I am sure that if I new earlier of things that I should have known about Islam and Arabs living in Israel - I am sure I would have not said some of the words I did. (a silly example: it took a long time and energy to get organized to do the non-profit signing with the lawyer, finally I managed to get all 8 people in a certain date for the signing of the papers, I was very exited and thought this is a very meaningful meeting (4 Jew's, 4 Muslims, and the lawyer was Muslim too), during the signatures I photographed and in the end I pulled out a bottle of the best red wine I could find... ops.... I really didn't know that Muslims don't drink wine...).
Could you advise me of a book/article or a website that I can learn more?
Thank you,
Karen
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Dear Karen,

Thank you very much for writing to me. I understand your dilemma about Muslims. But my mission is that Muslims need to also be sensitive to other cultures and religions. Why is it you who have to adjust all the time to their customs? It should be a mutual, reciprocal relationship.
The example you gave me was very good. I appreciate very much your sensitivity to Muslim culture. However, I wish Muslims are as sensitive to the religious and cultural customs of other cultures. If I were in the situation of your Muslim friends I would simply say thank you and not drink the wine if I do not drink. Some Muslims do drink alcohol, beer is produced and served in Egypt in many restaurants. Not all Muslims are the same and not all Muslim countries are the same. However, in the last decades the radical wing of Islam took over
like never before. I think Muslims also need to be sensitive to the religious and cultural values of other people.
Your honorable cause is very good and I am sure that your Muslim friends appreciate your intentions because they can see through your compassion and find through your friendship much more valuable aspects than simply opening a bottle of wine. Trust me there are many hidden vice in the Muslim world just like every culture. I hope you can show your Muslim friends my website and perhaps they can also write to me. Your efforts should be greatly appreciated.
Shalom/Salam

Nonie Darwish

You Are on the Good Road!

Posted June 12 2005

I' m Jewish Berberian ( from North Africa) who lived during 20 years with Arabs Muslims. I speak Arabic and have lot of Arabic friends.
I think that each community of people who want to live toguether, must have his State, his language, his flag, his traditians and to developp his econonomy to give prosperity to his habitants.
For me, the Jews must have their State, after 2000 years of slaughter and ghettos, some time from the Christians some time from the Muslims. And to live as jewish, speaking hebrew and practising freely theire religion.
I think and wish the same thing for the Palestians, for the Kabylians, for Kurdes or the Indiens. No body, No country can submit others people or country !!!
We need to fight against the extremists, we need to fight agianst people who beleave in 2005, that the woman is inferior to the man. We need to fight against people who hate everyone ( jews, christians, boudist, black, white etcccc) because they hate themselfes. And this is valid for each community !!
Extremists are everywhere.

Tony

Fantastic Website!

Posted June 12 2005

ArabsForIsrael.com is a fantastic web site. I've never seen anything like it,not even remotely. I read through many of the articles and letters, and I keptthinking to myself, this is what we need to hear, not news of jihad, suicide bombing, or another useless summit. As someone with many relatives in Israel (you could even say that I am from the American branch of a Palestinian Jewish family) I often get very angry when I hear about another bombing. And then I get to thinking, those "dirty Arabs," and worse. And its that kind of senseless prejudice that can potentially create a dangerous and deadly cycle. Thankfully, I always come back to reality. I think most of us usually do. Maybe its being Jewish, maybe its being American (or maybe its a combination of both), but I can't hold on to that kind of prejudice for long. It makes me feel dirty, like I'm being lowered down to the terrorists' level. Anybody who despairs, or thinks that all Arabs support terrorism (since 9/11 this opinion has become regrettably common among Americans) needs to come to this site. I was quite impressed with the sensitivity displayed in both the Jewish and Arab letters. I used to think I was missing something because I know very few, if any, Arabs. Now I am certain of it. I must confess that I am normally considered something of a "hard-liner" with respect to the Arab-Israeli conflict. I make no apologies for this. But any "hard line" not tempered with respect (and yes, even love), is simply rigidity, and has no place in my thinking (I hope).

-Anonymous

Thank you for Your Website

Posted May 22 2005

My journey as a Jew began from birthâ€¦I am a Jew â€˜by bloodâ€™ hence I am oneâ€¦but it is only recently that I have begun to realize the sadness of my peopleâ€™s history. It is important to note that to be a Jew (although not in the eyes of most people) is to adhere to the precepts of a religious code, nothing less and nothing more. Indeed, that is the way with all religions of the world, Jews did not always exist, nor did Muslims, Christians, Sikhs or Hindus. Humanity is nothing but a grain of sand, a blink in the mighty order of the universeâ€¦ Truth is found through rationality, discourse and philosophyâ€¦It takes greater strength to be a good human being without the expectation of divine reward or recognitionâ€¦It is more difficult to be a good human being while perceiving all things in an existential mannerâ€¦ That is, it is more difficult to be a good human being by being recognized only by your fellow men and women and not by God.
Although I dislike (and interested) in all forms of religion, I cannot help but feel a sense of belonging to the Jewsâ€™ suffering, not because they/us are of the same religion as me but because they (myself included) have stood at the knees of a so called humanity for the past two thousand years unjustly! And even after they have chosen to return to the land of their ancestors, they still receive no rest. The forces under which the Jewish nation has persevered have not been favorable at all. A great fragment of the â€˜civilizedâ€™ world still thinks that Jews have some sort of conspiracy to take over the planet (if they do then why am I not included?). The entire world does not allow the State of Israel to exist in quite. It is the only place in which a Jew (and an Arab) can be live in peace. Yet the world continues to diligently demonize the Jewish nation in this tiny and exhausted piece of land.
As I was sitting in my room reflecting upon the infamous conundrum of the Jewish fate I began to wonder if it is possible that among those (Arabs/Palestinians) who serve as the new version of the 3rd Reich, there are hidden people who see things as they are and not as they are dictated to see. I began to wonder if there are Arabs who are not afraid to speak out the truth. As a result I decided to â€˜googleâ€™ my question in the simplest and most direct of ways, â€˜Arabs for Israelâ€™. To my pleasant surprise I have found your website.
As I began to read the emails of the many Arabs that have written to you in the course of time, I was touched deeply by the courage and valor with which the obvious truth about the Jewish state was delivered from the mouths Arabs; the last people on earth that I would imagine to speak in favor of Israel. You have heard this before, but I will say this again, thank you for creating this website; please accept these words as the deepest and most sincere gratitude. If Israel is the light in the dark region of ignorance, then this website and the courageous Arabs who are willing to let their voices be heard, is an extension of this light.
Your words bring hope even to most moderate and pragmatic people who, after long examining the situation in Israel, begin to lose hope and begin to believe that there is no one to talk to. Your existence serves a living testament that even in the gloomiest and darkest of places there are those who somehow gather the strength to detach themselves from the suffocating slime of hatred, ignorance and dogma into the purity and freshness of wisdom and tolerance.
Edmund Burke once said, â€˜the only thing evil needs to triumph is for good to do nothingâ€™. You are the â€˜goodâ€™, all of you who write these emails, who are not afraid to go against authority, who dare to seek the truth even when hostile forces keep you away from itâ€¦Your good words keep evil at its knees. It takes a lot of courage to dissent and represent a nation and a country which is in dire straits for as long as it exists, especially when most of the world, from some strange reason, loathes itâ€¦CONTINUE WHAT YOU DO, DO NOT STOP, YOU ARE APPRICIATED MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE!!!

Thank you, Arthur.

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Dear Arthur,

It is people like you who keep me going, my wonderful Jewish friends, people and culture. I am grateful for your culture's appreciation of compassion, love of humanity, forgiveness and peace. I want you and all Jews to know you are also appreciated more than you can ever imagine maybe not yet by the majority around the world who do not want to see the truth. But your supporters are committed and are thankful to your teachings. You taught me to be a humanitarian and that is why I am grateful to you. I will continue my mission to stand up for what is right and support Israel and the Jewish people.

Shalom
Your friend,

Nonie Darwish

Greetings from Be'er Sheba

Posted April 17 2005

I was very pleased to have found your website and I appreciate very much your work!
I was born in Switzerland to Israeli parents and I decided to come back to Israel in order to study here, half a year ago. I am studying at Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Be'er Sheva, on the edge of the desert and I am having my best time ever, I guess.
Apart from the overall excellence and the spirit of my university I am especially happy that there is real coexistance and respect between Jewish Israelis and Arab Israelis (mostly Beduins). I am studying Geography and we are about 45 students. Out of them are some 7 Muslims. One comrade comes from Qalansawe, next to Netanya and the rest come from Beduin towns and villages around Be'er Sheva (Rahat, Ar'ara, Laqiye). Studying with me are also two girls who are religious and hiding their hair. As opposed to my experiences in Europe, I see that the vast majority of the Jewish students don't even make a difference between them and their Muslim comrades.The atmosphere is most natural and friendly. There is great respect towards the cultural uniqueness of each others culture and I think that this is a great fact. Moreover it is an astounding fact that our university boosts a Jewish prayer room, as well as a Muslim one.
I am very much hoping that this attitude will spread, because it is the only way to live in peace and coexistence. Therefore I am very proud of being part of my university that enables (besides many other places) a natural place of working together, studying together and experiencing together.
Best regards from Be'er Sheva, Israel

David Rubinstein (25)

Posted Jan 18 2005

The true enemy of peace between our nations is "replacement theology" - the belief that one prophet came to eradicate the message of previous prophets and to bring a new religion to replace the former. In Jewish belief, no true prophet can contradict the Prophet Moses - that is the test each person who claims to bring the words of God must pass. It is not an easy test because God Himself makes it difficult. Prophets bring messages which seem contradictory, and only expert scholars are able to identify the harmony. This was true with the Book of Ezekiel where only one scholar was able to see the conformity with previous scripture to enable this book to be allowed into the Canon. I see the Quran in this light. In my personal opinion, someday we will have the scholarship and the structure (Sanhedrin), and the courage, to recognize it as prophesy. But today, we have the seeming contradictions to struggle with.
How is it possible that Islam will triumph when we, as Jews, must recognize that the Torah of Moses is eternal? How is it possible that Jesus will bring Christianity to all in the midst of the common belief among Christians that the New Testament replaced the Old? Is there a way we can all be right? There is.
While I make absolutely no claims to scholarship, for many years it has been obvious to me that there is harmony between our faiths. There are snags, to be sure, but the harmony is vast and the snags are few. That harmony is the Torah of Moses. Those who are truly interested in peace must look critically and intellectually at the traditional beliefs that Jesus and Mohammed came to change or replace the Torah. Jesus said explicitly in Matthew 5 that he did not come to abolish the Torah. The Quran repeatly praises the Torah as a guide and a blessing for all and a covenant between God and Israel.
So what's the problem? Where did it get off track? There's a lot of history here, but the primary problem is that ugly doctrine of replacement theology instead of the true doctrine of plural covenants.
How are the scriptures of Christianity and Islam explained in this light? Briefly, it is important to understand that when the Torah was given, it was to be a covenant between God and the nation of Israel. It separated Israel from the nations of the world. The world was not told at Sinai to keep the Sabbath on the Seventh Day - Israel alone was given this commandment. The kosher laws were not given to the world, but to Israel alone. I won't take the time or space here to quote verses, but for those who wish to do so, see how many times a verse in the Torah, in Exodus through Deuteronomy, begins with "God said to Moses, speak unto the children of Israel and say to them...."
The most important part of the Christian Bible which touches on plural covenants is Acts Chapter 15. This Jerusalem Council meeting took place at least 30 years after the preachings of Jesus. Had Jesus taught that the Torah was to be abolished among the Jews, this discussion in Acts 15 as to whether the Gentiles should keep the Torah of Moses would be absurd. Not only would the Gentiles have had no obligation to the Torah of Moses, but neither would the Jewish believers in Jesus, if Jesus had come to abolish the Torah and replace it with a new covenant. Yet, here we see that James, the head of the Jerusalem Congregation writes a letter "to the brethren who are of the Gentiles" telling them, in paraphrase, "No, there is no need for you to burden yourselves with the Torah." Turning to Acts 21, we see that some subsequent confusion arose and it was rumored that Paul taught the Jews among the Gentiles not to obey the Torah. To this charge, James says that the rumor is false and to Paul, a Jew, James says, "you, yourself, live in observance of the Law. But as for the gentiles, we have sent them a letter...." These two chapters in Acts establish with certainty the plurality of covenants which existed within original authentic Christianity. Jews continued to obey the entire Torah as Jesus taught them, and Gentiles kept basic moral laws which Judaism refers to as the Noahide covenant, for all mankind. This is not my opinion alone, but can be found in a wonderful book by Orthodox Rabbi Harvey Falk entitled, "Jesus the Pharisee."
Moving to Islam, the Quran states that Jesus came as an apostle to the Jews confirming the Torah previously revealed. No replacement theology here, and true conformity with the message of the Gospels and Acts 15.
Why does the covenant of circumcision reappear, then, since the Gentiles of Christianity were told not to circumcise? This is because Islam reinstates the Abrahamic covenant for the descendants of Abraham and Keturah. It is not a call for the gentiles of the Noahide covenant to take on this obligation.
So there's a basic harmony here. Judaism is the younger of the faiths. The most ancient is the commandments given to Noah and all his descendants. Particularism began with Abraham who was commanded circumcision and who was given knowledge of the Torah laws although not being obligated to them. When the Torah was given to the Children of Israel, it did not obligate the non-Jewish nations to its 613 laws. Consider the festival of Passover which the Torah makes eternal for Jews. What sense would it make for non-Jews to celebrate Passover, the Exodus from Egypt? It is not their history, and it is not their obligation.
I hope I have presented an outline that adequately demonstrates the reality of plural covenants. But why is this important? Why is replacement theology the real enemy and the obstacle to peace? For true believers in God, we are admonished in our various scriptures to preach His truth to the world. May we be blessed to learn truth prior to preaching it! The truth for Christians has been, over the past 2000 years, that a New Covenant has replaced the Old and that Jews must convert to Christianity to be saved from hell. Thus, they believed they were doing good by the forced baptisms and choices between conversion or exile and death. The truth for Muslims has typically been that if a Jew doesn't convert to Islam, he is a detestable unbeliever.
Is there another way to look at Islam? I believe so. Islam means submission to God. While it primarily refers to a particular faith, it also has this "generic" meaning. Ultimately, the entire world will embrace submission to God, each according to our own covenants, and this is the message of all of our prophets. Let us work toward this goal.

Shalom,
Miriam

Posted Jan 8 2005

shalom Madam Nonie,

I call you Madam because you are a hero.

I was born in 1967 in Paris, and I grew up there until age of 20. I was french girl. But not completelly because i am Jew. I always felt I mustn't disclose it, therefore I always felt i am not free to live my life. What can I say, 98% of french people actively hated jews enough to assist or not to prevent nazis to murder my people. My people is hated since always. slaves, burned, pogromised, murder by gas, fire, experimental surgeries, from arab lands to Western, Eastern Europ. Why? from Age of 20 I came to live in Israel. From here, I feel even more how the world hates us. What I want to say is that world MUST understand and I wish Muslim neighbours too, that we are acting the best we can within the bad circumstances we live as human beings. Yes we will never do to others what they do to us. We will never take a knife and enjoy the blood of a muslim. Our soldiers are suffering having to face violence. Don't you know that Israeli people love to make fun, dance, smoke grass, make barbecues better than being obliged scaring people with guns. Will the world and our neighbours understand that we are the VICTIMS, even if the weapons are in our arms, we must protect ourselves. IDF is Israel DEFENSE Army not Israel Attack Army. We want peace with our neighbours, we want them to throw their bad leaders away, we want them to risk their life for their ideas. We want them to show they are not just a scaried group of sheeps. We want them to show that Quran is a relligion of love. We want them to respect Woman, we want them to respect value of Life. We want them to stop to consider people who are not muslims as dogs. We want them to face their own problems in their own life because of THEIR LEADERS. We need them to stop teaching their children that we are murderers. We have good heart. We are not Chemical Ali to solve the conflict by killing them. Even if in other countries, it would have been the way. They are more safe among us that in many other countries and first arab countries. I want to stop being scared when I see an Arab. I want to travel to Lebanon, Siria as a Tourist. I want them to understand that we all suffer.

from Tel Aviv with love.

Wow

Shalom Nonie,

Your site brought tears to my eyes. I am an Orthodox Jewish convert from Islam. My father,although not a radical in every sense of the word, might as well be. He hates the Jews with a passion and rejoices when terrorist attacks happen only to Jews. He was not always like this, but a new mosque he started attending caused him to think this way, and him consequently disowning me after discovering my conversion to Judaism. My mother on the other hand is more or less between atheism and agnosticism, and is a very open and liberal woman, and it was due to this openness and love that she has that i came to Judaism. Ever since i did though, it has been a struggle. A struggle of acceptance by my family and by the members of my new faith, some of whom looked to my conversion with skepticism and many still do, but that is only the case here in America. Israelis have had no problem accepting me as one of them, a full-fledged Orthodox Jew.Even before my decision to become Jewish, I have never really accepted Islamic doctrine, and ever since my childhood anything and everything having to do with Jews, Israel or Judaism has attracted me, and ever since then i have had a deep love and respect instilled within me for the Jews. It brings me more joy than you can imagine to see that I am not alone in my way of thinking, and that there is hope for peace beween us and the Arab world. I am sure that there are much more like you, but are simply afraid to voice their opinion due to threats of death from terrorist thugs. Well, I never had such a fear. I lived in Lebanon for three years, and even in this most "liberal" of Arab nations, i was attacked, beaten, and once choked in class for simply not hating Israel and the Jews, and after that incident is when i no longer cared and openly voiced my Zionism, belief in Judaism and deep love and support for Israel. My mother, fearing for my life, brought me back to the States where i underwent my conversion in secret, fearing my father's reaction. And now, even though my father has turned his back on me, I don't have a single regret about my conversion. I have visited Israel two times and I love the land and the people, i love the heterogeneity of Israeli society. All of the filth that Arab propagandists spew about Israel being intolerant and racist and Jews being "blood suckers" and people who kill Arab children and mix their blood with matzah is complete garbage. Not in one person i met there, from the Ultra-Orthodox in Me'ah Shearim to the secularists in bathing suits on Tel-Aviv beach to the brave and heoric soldiers in the IDF did i find one ounce of hatred for the Arabs, Islam, or Muslims. They just want peace, and as one can see now, at any price.Even if that price is our anscestral homeland. We are willing to give up what is rightfully ours, rightfully Jewish, just for peace and security, and after 2,000 years, rest from persecution and the fear of death at the whim of tyrannical mad men. We just want peace, and people like you and the many people whom HASHEM has blessed by opening their eyes, bring hope to my heart that peace is at hand. Shalom to you and to all the nations of the earth, David Ari (Bakri Jamil) Daoud. darkblade065140@aol.com

Posted Dec 31 2004

My congragulations to you for your bold site. I don't know many Moslems who would dare speak honestly and openly as you do. I am an Israeli Jew who travels regularly to Egypt on business. I truly feel very close to the friendly Egyptian people and have good relations with them - as long as I conceal the fact that I am Israeli. They don't like that word. They prefer to hear Palestine, so I humor them. I realized this once when I was talking with a wealthy and educated Egyptian business associate in 10 Ramadan City. We were having a congenial conversation until the word "Israel" came up in conversation. When I saw the look of rage on his reddened face, I realized I'd used the wrong word.

Unfortunately, even among my educated Egyptian friends, there is a sense of pride in the accomplishment of 9-11. Islam had finally toppled the haughtiness of the American Empire. An interesting fact I learned when staying at the Palestine Helnan Hotel in Alexandria: according to the Hotel's own descriptive brochure, the hotel was built in 1964 to house royalty from throughout the Arab lands for the Second Arab Summit. And why was it called Palestine Hotel? Because at that summit was made the decision to establish the PLO. The date of the summit? September 11, 1964. Something to think about. September 11: establishment of the terrorist group to destroy Israel - the PLO. September 11: the attempt to deliver a knockout to the USA - 9-11.

Israel has so much to offer the entire Arab world and would gladly do so just as the indigenous Jewish populations brought so much benefit to their hosting Arab lands in years gone by. I'm afraid that only the democratization of the Arab world will free the Islamic people from the bonds of their tyrannical governments so that the masses are able to benefit from a world waiting to help them prosper. Until the tyrants are gone, the Islamic masses will unfortunately continue to suffer at the hands of their very governments' self-destructive reign. The enemy is not Israel or the Jewish People. They wish with all their hearts to be your friends.

Y.Kohn

Dear Ms Darwish:

I am a Jewish woman living in South Africa. I am married and have one child and one on the way.

Lately I have felt suffocated by, and terrified of, the rising Arab-led anti-semitism around the world. Recently, however, I found out about your website Arabsforisrael.com and on it I read your article What I Learned From Jews, as well as the countless e-mails and letters from your Arab readers. I found myself exhaling with relief.

I want to thank you for your kind words as well as the other contributers to your website for their compassion. I also want to thank you, and them, for the understanding that Jews (with all our foibles and faults) want to live a peaceful life coexisting happily with all others who inhabit our Earth. Thank you for understanding that we do not want to drink the blood of other children, and that we do not want to conspire to ruin this world and make it only ours.

I fear so much for my children's future as Jews: at times I feel almost helpless in trying to prepare them for what may be ahead. Thank you, thank you for providing some light and hope.

Ms Darwish, in your opinion, will this hatred end? In our lifetime? What do you believe will happen to our world over the next few years? The next few decades?

Again I thank you and the other brave people who have contributed to your website.

Tania

----------------

Dear Tania,

Thank you for your kind words of support. I was very touched by your e-mail and I am glad I gave you a little hope in this current world environment that is turning anti-semitic. However, hope is always on the side of those who are on the right moral ground. The Jewish people are on the right moral ground and that is why I am speaking out for them. There are more and more of us speaking out. I just came back from a speaking engagement with a Jewish woman who was expelled from Libya. Her name is Gina Malaka Waldman, Co-Chair JIMENA (Jews Indigenous to the Middle East & North Africa) www.jimena-justice.org

The good and moral Arabs and Muslims are have to make the right change in their culture and value system to bring out more of the compassion in Islam and end the hate speech and violence. the world is hungry to see the compassionate side of Islam and the good Muslims have to bring theat out. Of course there is hope for your children. The truth is that being Jewish is a blessing. Please tell that to your children, coming from an Arab American woman of Muslim background. Nature always makes the right side win, this is the order of things and the balance of nature.

Sincerely,

Nonie Darwish

Hi, my name is Mike Kaplunov. I'm Jewish, originally from Russia, but now live in Los Angeles. I found your site a while ago, and I was impressed by what you are doing. You are a light at the end of the tonel. If there were more people like you, not only Arabs or Jews, but all over the world, a world would be a better place. I always thoght that Israel-Palestinian conflict was a biggest mistake in the history of both nations. Instead of learning from each other, and perhapse building a state together (which in my opinion would be the best solution), to great nations are trying to cut each other's throat. And the leaders are making tons of money on the lives of inocent people. And what saddens me most, there won't be piece in that region, until people on both sides see what their leaders are doing to them. But before that we need to learn form each other, open our hands and hearts to each other and say "WELCOME HOME CUSIN". If we do that, we can show the world the way to live. And, maybe there will be less hatred, and wars in the world. We have more in common, then we care to admit. And we can live together and benefit, and learn from each other. Thank you one more time for what you are doing.

Mike Kaplunov.

P.S. Feel free to publish my e-mail on your site under my name.

Growing up Jewish in Alexandria, Egypt

By Jacques Hakim

It was an interesting experience growing up Jewish in Alexandria in the 1940's; the decade that witnessed the end of WWII as well as the Israeli war of Independence.

My father recalls how close the German army got to the city, before being pushed back by the British at El-Alamein. He told me that, although many locals were preparing to welcome the germans with open arms, banners and decorations, our moslem neighbours were concerned about our safety and well being. Although they distrusted the British, they feared the Nazis much more. Once the war was over, the very diverse population of Alexandria felt a big sigh of relief. My father had picked up the ability to converse in 7 languages, just from having very diverse groups of France: They were arabic, greek, italian, french, english, spanish and even armenian!

I attended both a jewish (le Petit Lycee at Sporting) as well as a catholic elementary school (St Vincent de Paul, uptown) and we played ball, in the street with our local neighbours children, almost everyday; they were Moslems, Christians and Jews. Our best experiences occurred during religious holidays: We would all partake in the festivities with whoever was celebrating.Fabulous christmas goodies, succulent Ramadan pastries (all night) and great jewish sweets around Pourim and Hannukah. There are forever rooted in my memory.

Unfortunately, by the end of the decade, the Israeli war of independence gave those fanatics who didn't like the life of diversity and coexistence, and excuse to promote violence and intimidation. Our Moslem friends were pressed between allegiance to Islam or to the infidels. But we were kids, and as such we continued our games in the street by daylight with all the children, but then we would barricade ourselves in our appartments at night on the advice of our very concerned moslem neighbours.

The revolution of the early fifties , which brought down the corrupt government of King Farouk, brought a very short lived glimmer of hope in town: Nasser had promised radical social, economic, religious as well as political reforms that were bound to improve the quality of life in our city. However the upsurge of nationalism, promoted by the "Islamic Brotherhood", and Nasser's unexpected level of popularity led him to a tragic confrontation with England and France over the Suez Canal, and Israel over the constant "Fedayeen attacks" over the border. This resulted in the political expulsion of most Jews and other foreigners from Egypt and the installation of a police state in 1956. We were given 30 days to (be on a boat out of the country) leave; we didn't want to figure out the alternative.

My whole list of family, friends, business people, store owners, neighbours, teachers and even some cops and soldiers, they all cried! Nobody wanted to see anybody leave; we didn't want to leave, but we all had to face reality. We left Alexandria on Dec 29th, 1956.

Had we not been forced out, I am sure we would all still be enjoying the beautiful beaches of Alexandria, right now in the summer of 2004!

WE SIMPLY LOVE MOISE RAHMANI; AN EGYPTIAN JEW WHO WAS FORCED WITH HIS FAMILY TO LEAVE EGYPT. HE STILL LOVES THE EGYPT HE LEFT AS A CHILD. HE STILL SPEAKS ARABIC AND HAS MANY ARABIC EXPRESSIONS IN HIS WRITING. WHAT A LOSS TO EGYPT TO HAVE GREAT CITIZENS LIKE THAT FORCED OUT. I AM IN AWE OF HIS WRITING. MY DEAR MOISE, I SALUTE YOU AND ALL THE EGYPTIAN JEWS WHO WERE FORCED OUT OF EGYPT, YOU HAVE MY UTMOST RESPECT. PLEASE READ THE BEAUTY OF HIS HEART:

6/6/2004 Texte Ã traduire par Suzy Vidal du franÃ§ais en anglais pour MoÃ¯se Rahmani

EgyptIn the days when a pound was a pound and a man was a man

By moise rahmani

I am homesick for that Egypt where it was so good to live when I was just a boy.

I am homesick for that Egypt of my childhood â€“ I was born in 1944 â€“where Jewish life was in full swing, where relations among people in the streets seemed, at least to my young eyes, friendly and brotherly, where - as my regretted father used to say: "a pound was a pound and a man a man."My memories of Egypt? First and foremost the different noises. The call of the muezzin at the Mosque in front of us (there is always one in front) inviting the faithful to prayer; the calls of the ragman, robabekia robabekia, old things, old things; the cries of the different vendors, tinkers, knife grinders; deafening squealing of cars and taxis playing with their horn as to who would be the loudest; screeching of tram rails in sparkling fireworks; exchange of news by neighbourly housewives from one window to another; howling of children playing kora, ball, in the streets and inside the building courtyards. Then the smells, intoxicating smell s of fruits in season: mangoes, oranges, figs, apples, goafas, goyavas, and eshtas, corrosolsâ€¦ What to say of dates: the red ones, slightly sour, the yellow and black ones, melting, trickling, syrupy, like honey. Scarlet pomegranates bursting with sweetness. Batikh, watermelons savoured cool with white salty cheese. And juices. Oh juices! Liquorice juice! I still hear the agitated tingling of the â€œeer e soussâ€ vendor, striking his white iron goblet against the copper of the recipient tied to his waist. Thick mango juice, cane sugar juice savoured warm, coming freshly out of the press. And the light: slightly crude, slightly troubled, and slightly white! The sunrays hit strongly. Because of the heat, the buildings, the cars, the people danced in the distance. Mirages repeated endlesslyâ€¦ I am homesick for the synagogues. We followed the services at the oratory known as Abraham Btesh in Heliopolis. I remember its inner courtyard during the Roch Hashana feast. Discussions were lively. After the service, with boisterous congratulations for "kol sana wenta tayeb", exchange of greetings for a good year, we would go to the cafÃ©. Adults took a zibib. They poured a few drops in our saucers that we relished hoping to grow up quickly to sip in turn this delightful drink. The children rejoiced with their Spathis or a Pepsi. Mezes, assorted appetisers, covered the table, the aperitif transforming itself into a pantagruelian meal. In the morning at around ten, in an unchanging ritual, we - my dad and I, my tiny hand held closely in his strong hand full of tenderness, directed our steps to Mansourah's to eat our Sunday foul between men. What to say of that foul! With hard-boiled eggs and salad, and more than abundant torchi, pickles. My dad ordered a beer and allowed me to dip my lips in that drink reserved for adults. We proceeded with some ta'ameya and a few baklava and konafa. Then we bought the Paris weeklies for my parents: Ici Paris, France-Dimanche, Confidences. Oh! what would I not give to re-live only one of those Sundays. 1948. Life topples. I remember the black- out and the deafening sirens. Heavy blue curtains covered our windows and lights in the event of an air raid. What ill luck if one luminous ray filtered into the night: Tafi el nour, yahudi, ibn kalb, Turn off the light, Jew, son of a dog. In April 1956 a last stop at Mansourah's en route to Almaza, the Cairo airport, a take off and a landing every three minutes, my mother teaches me, night has fallen long ago, it is 9 p.m. We buy a foul sandwich, another of ta'ameya. My mother tells me with a catch in her voice, her eyes pearled with unshed tears : â€œ Take Moisico, we don't know when we'll be able to taste them again.â€ Our plane takes off for the Congo, towards a new life. Compared to our family, our friends who remain, we can consider ourselves lucky. They in turn will be thrown out of Egypt after the Suez War. But there remains a permanent, a wide-open wound that will never totally heal 2000. The synagogues are deserted. Mansourah now lives in Brooklyn, his cooking has conquered Americans. Cairo has grown from two to almost fifteen million inhabitants. Jewish memory lingers on, here and there, with some old people. Haret el Yehud no longer lives. Of these five oratories, only that of Beth MoshÃ©, the house of Rambam, has been waiting for a hypothetical restoration for a long number of years. The Jews of Egypt, a handful, are agonising. A pound is no longer a pound; a man is no longer a man. Today's Egypt has wrenched out my memory, our memory.It only survives among the very few melancholic, invincible people.
Egypt, I am homesick for you. For you : the Egypt of my childhood, the one of happiness.
I am homesick for the time when a pound was a pound and a man a man.
Lâ€™Egypte
Au temps oÃ¹ une livre Ã©tait une livre et un homme Ã©tait un homme
J'ai la nostalgie de l'Egypte oÃ¹ il faisait si bon vivre lorsque j'Ã©tais garÃ§onnet. J'ai la nostalgie de cette Egypte de mon enfance - je suis nÃ© en 1944 - oÃ¹ la vie juive battait son plein, oÃ¹ les relations entre gens de la rue semblaient, Ã mes yeux de bambin, cordiales et fraternelles oÃ¹, comme le disait mon regrettÃ© pÃ¨re Â« une livre Ã©tait une livre et un homme Ã©tait un homme Â».
Mes souvenirs d'Egypte ?
D'abord les bruits. Incantations du muezzin de la mosquÃ©e d'en face (il y a toujours une mosquÃ©e en face !) convoquant Ã la priÃ¨re, appels du chiffonnier : robabekia, robabekia , vieilleries, vieilleries, cris des divers vendeurs, rÃ©tameurs, aiguiseurs de couteaux, glapissements assourdissants des voitures et taxis jouant de leur klaxon au plus fort sonnant, crissements des rails du tram dans une envolÃ©e d'Ã©tincelles, confidences de mÃ©nagÃ¨res lancÃ©es par les fenÃªtres, hurlements des enfants jouant Ã la kora, Ã la balle dans les rues et dans les cours des immeubles. Ensuite les odeurs. Odeurs enivrantes des fruits saisonniers : mangues, oranges, figues, pommes, goafas, goyaves et eshtas, corossolsâ€¦ les dattes, les rouges, un peu sures, les jaunes et les noires, fondantes, dÃ©goulinantes, sirupeuses comme le miel, les grenades Ã©carlates, Ã©clatantes de douceur, du batikh, la pastÃ¨que dÃ©gustÃ©e fraÃ®che avec du fromage blanc salÃ©. Et des jus. Ah les jus ! Jus de rÃ©glisse ! jâ€™entends les tintements agitÃ©s du vendeur du Â« eer e souss Â» heurtant son gobelet de fer blanc sur le cuivre du rÃ©cipient attachÃ© Ã la taille, jus Ã©pais de mangue, jus de canne Ã sucre dÃ©gustÃ© encore chaud, coulant du pressoir. Et la lumiÃ¨re. Un peu crue, un peu trouble, un peu blanche !â€¦ le soleil cogne fort. A cause de la chaleur, les immeubles, les voitures, les gens dansent au loin. Mirages sans cesse rÃ©pÃ©tÃ©s... J'ai la nostalgie des synagogues. Nous frÃ©quentions la nommÃ©e Abraham Betesh d'HÃ©liopolis. Je me souviens de sa cour intÃ©rieure durant les fÃªtes de Roch Hachana. Les discussions allaient bon train. AprÃ¨s l'office, Ã grandes congratulations de Â« Kol sana wenta tayeb Â», l'Ã©change des voeux de bonne annÃ©e, nous allions au cafÃ©. Les adultes prenaient un zibib, ils nous en versaient quelques gouttes sur la soucoupe que nous dÃ©gustions, souhaitant grandir vite pour siroter Ã notre tour ce breuvage dÃ©licieux. Les enfants se rÃ©jouissaient dâ€™une Spathis ou un dâ€™un Pepsi. Les mÃ©zÃ©s couvraient la table, l'apÃ©ritif sâ€™abandonnait en un repas pantagruÃ©lique. Le matin vers dix heures, dans un rituel immuable, nous nous rendions, Papa et moi, ma menotte enserrÃ©e dans sa forte main toute de tendresse, chez Mansourah, pour manger notre foul dominical, entre hommes. Mais quel foul ! Avec des oeufs durs et de la salade. Et des torchis comme s'il en pleuvait. Papa commandait une biÃ¨re et m'autorisait Ã tremper les lÃ¨vres dans cette boisson de grande personne. Nous continuions avec un peu de taâ€™ameya et quelques baklava et konafa. Ensuite nous achetions les hebdomadaires parisiens de mes parents : Ici-Paris, France-Dimanche, Confidences. Ah ! que ne donnerais-je pour revivre un seul de ces dimanchesâ€¦

1948. La vie bascule. Je me souviens du black-out et des sirÃ¨nes assourdissantes. Dâ€™Ã©paisses d'Ã©paisses tentures bleues couvraient les fenÃªtres et les lumiÃ¨res en cas d'alerte. Malheur si un rayon lumineux trouait la nuit : tafi el nour, yahudi, ibn kalb, Ã©teins la lumiÃ¨re, Juif, fils de chien ! Avril 1956 : une derniÃ¨re halte chez Mansourah en chemin pour Almaza, l'aÃ©roport du Caire, un dÃ©collage et un atterrissage toutes les trois minutes, mâ€™enseigne Maman. Le soir est tombÃ© depuis longtemps, il est vingt et une heures. Nous achetons un sandwich de foul, un autre de taâ€™ameya. Maman me dit d'une voix sourde, les yeux perlÃ©s : Â« Prends MoÃ¯sicco, nous ne savons pas quand nous pourrons en remanger encore Â». Notre avion dÃ©colle vers minuit pour le Congo, vers une nouvelle vie. Nous avons de la chance par rapport Ã notre famille, Ã nos amis qui restent: ils seront jetÃ©s hors dâ€™Egypte aprÃ¨s Suez. Mais il reste une dÃ©chirure dÃ©finitive, une plaie bÃ©ante qui ne cicatrisera jamais entiÃ¨rement. 2000. Les synagogues sont dÃ©sertes. Mansourah vit Ã Brooklyn : sa cuisine a conquis les AmÃ©ricains. Le Caire est passÃ© de deux millions d'habitants Ã prÃ¨s de quinze millions. La mÃ©moire juive subsiste chez quelques vieux, de ci, de lÃ . Le Haret el Yahud ne vit plus. De ces cinq oratoires, seul celui de Beth MoshÃ©, la maison du Rambam, attend d'Ãªtre restaurÃ© depuis des annÃ©es. Les Juifs d'Egypte, une poignÃ©e, agonisent. Une livre n'est plus une livre, un homme n'est plus un homme, l'Egypte d'aujourd'hui a extirpÃ© ma mÃ©moire, notre mÃ©moire. Elle ne subsiste que chez quelques irrÃ©ductibles mÃ©lancoliques.

Egypte, j'ai ta nostalgie. Celle de mon enfance et celle du bonheur. Celle du temps oÃ¹ une livre Ã©tait une livre et un homme Ã©tait un homme.

Wed, 02 Jun 2004 18:49:24 +0200 From: Moise Rahmani Subject: Re: Fwd: Re: Mabrouk To: have a look at what I wrote some time ago when I created the "awlad el Nil" pages... (go down to "Four we taameya... Ya Rab, the sunday foul at Mansourah, with torchis, salata, beid, eich baladi, the brown one, the best..., and baa'dein some halawat : baklawa, konafa, om Ali... , one Spahi (zibib for my father and ahwaal riha), and my hand in my father's one... I don't know what I will give just for one, even half of one, sunday....

But enough memory, it doesn't serve.

www.sefarad.org/diaspora/egypt/index.php?safa=fr

Awlad el Nil, Nonie, means Hassan, Morcos we Cohen (the title of a very old film): Muslims, Christians, Jews who made the country, who were the country.

Alff salamat

Moise

Another E-MAIL from Australia:

AM A JEW AND A ZIONIST, I AM 76 YEAR OF AGE AND A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, WE ALWAYS LONGED FOR PALESTINE TO BE AN ISRAELY HOME LAND, AS A YOUNGSTER I REMEMBER WE WERE TOLD YOU "JEW " (WITH A FEW ASSOCIATED COMMENTS) GO TO PALESTINE,) SO WE ALWAYS LONGED FOR OUR HOMELAND, IN MEANTIME PALESTINE WAS ALSO POPULATED BY ARABS, AND THIS FACT HAS TO BE RECOGNISED. i JUST RETURNED FROM A VISIT TO ISRAEL, (by the way my wife was born in Egypt, and after 1948 they were not realy welcomed there, after1956 they were virualy forced fro Egypt, which was home for them for 4 generations) ISRAEL IS FLOURISHING, ECCONOMICALLY AND A LEADER IN HIGH TECH. YES I, LIKE YOURSELF BELIEVE THAT ITS NEIGHBOURS COULD BENEFIT FROM IT. (AFTER ALL, THE ISRAELI ARABS HAVE A HIGHER STANDARD OF LIVING, THAN MANY OF ITS NEIGHBOURS,(NOT TALKING ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP) GOLDA MYERS SAID " THRE WILL NOT BE PEACE TILL THEY THE ARABS LEARN TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN MORE, THAN THEY HATE US" WHY SUCRIFICE SO MANY BEUTIFULL YOUNG LIVES, "MARTYRS" LET US WORK FOR PEACE. an Optimist IN AUSTRALIA

Nonie,
I was a jewish teenager in Egypt during the Nasser Revolution in Egypt in the early 1950's. Even though it was after the Israeli War of independence, I thought that Nasser, who rallied so many moslem youths from Morroco to Indonesia, and actually linked 2 influential moslem countries, namely Egypt and Syria into one entity the UAR, would have been the perfect executor of social/politcal and even religious reform that would extend to the whole Islamic World. Unfortunately, he fell into the same deadend that seems to affect all moslem leadership over the centuries: Rule by ignorance and repression! What a missed opportunity !!!!!!!!!!!!!

I compliment you on taking courageous steps toward instilling a sense of self pride and motivation into moslem society, and I know the risks you took to do this project. I certainly admire you, although I don't envy your position. Having said that, I am convinced that NOT until another "Nasser" springs onto the world scene, with full grass-root support, can anybody expect to see real change in the Moslem world.

This is the same situation as the one sparked 2 weeks ago when Bill Cosby made some tough remaks with regards to the emancipation of Blacks in the USA. He is Black, he is Admired for his achievements, he is independently wealthy, and he succeeded by working with the system: Many balked at his openness, but everybody heard him!!

Jacques

Archive of Emails from Arabs and Muslims

2009-02-08T09:17:00.000-08:00

Emails from Arabs and Muslims around the world

From Morocco

Posted 17 November 2007

dear madam,
i would like to thank u and may god protect you because what you are doing and what you are loocking for is not easy to reach but because you do believe in it am sure that one day inchaalah ['God willing' -Ed.] god will help us to live in peace life long ..
ps : am from morocco and thank you because you read my mail..
kind regards

Arab Israeli Youth network

Posted 15 July 2007

Dear Nonie

What you do is a Great Work...Muslims and Arabs must Understand that they must Accept the Other's View.
I am Alaa From Yemen, Youth Worker i have Similar Project to link between Arab Countries and Israel which is a Regional Youth Network and I am looking now days for support and stand.
So, I wonder if you could help me to achieve the Goals !!?

Looking to hear from you

Regards.

From an Egyptian American.

Posted April 29, 2007

Dear Mrs Drawish
I saw you on CNN last summer and I just finished reading your book that I picked up yesrteday. It was enlighting, moving, and emotional. Like you, I am an Egyptian/American who understands your growing up experience having gone to parochial schools, and laughed at as a sissy, foreigner just for speaking different langauges. Sure enough, I had to leave Egypt and made the US home. At Cairo airport, I was asked if I changed my religion together with my American name. In visits to Egypt, I am asked if I married a Muslim girl or if I pray. When I saw you on TV, I was disappointed at your views with Israel atrocities in Lebanon. But now that I read your book, I believe you have a great courage and you have dome what no one has done before. I am glad to support in any way I can

Anonymous

Bravo 3aleki

Posted April 29, 2007

Messa el kheir ya Nonie..Ana esmi Benjamin Katane wana Yahoodi men Masr..ana saken fi baris bass aboya gaye men masr we omy men gazair...ana faragt kol el barameg menek wana kount mabsoute geddan achouff sett zayek keda...Enti set el salam, set el hob, set el ensaneya...wallahi ana bashagaaki meya fel meya...we enchallah orayeb el salam ben el moslemin we ben el yahood...ehna zay baad we mesh fahem leih fi harb ma benena...enchallah el solh, el salam wel mahaba benena...Bravo bravo bravo bravo...ana baheb kol haga fiki yaani enti motafatehi awi awi awi

Maa ALF SALAMA we rabena yehmiki enti we kol el nass elly yedafaa aan el salam...

KATANE

Letter from Iraq

Posted April 29, 2007

I watched you on tv 3 weeks ago, and I always think the way you do since I was a teenager. I think of the right of the Yahood (Jews) to live in peace and have their country.But I could not say it because I lived my whole life in the largest prison in the world ( IRAQ). Iraq is my country (in which i lived and loved) & there are so many people there think the way I do. Nonie I wrote a lot of what you`ve expressed in TV but because of the fear in Iraq and the possibility of somebody can read what I wrote in Baghdad during seddam regiem ,I burned all the papers. Now I have my freedom for the first time in my life,but I do not know how to start supporting our people to rethink of what they read in schools,and to let people think in a peacefull mind and to see the world from a new aspect. If you think that we can help and support each other to fight the roots of terrorism ,please email me and I`ll try to do my best. By the way I can write in a good Arabic.

Regards.

Mohammed.

Giving a Small Smile

Posted April 28, 2007

Hi Nonie
I'm marwan from Israel. When I get this message I think about you. But I know that you live far than to be with us. Here we ( arab and Jewish people) try to find the way to make something for new life. I send you an English and Arabic version. Maybe it can give small smile, it could be the minimum that I want to give you

Love you so much

marwan

Education is the Answer

Posted April 26 2007

Thanks for the reply. I totally agree with you that radical Islam poses a threat not only to non-Muslims, but to Muslims as well, for more than often, innocent Muslims, women as well as children, suffer the consequences of the actions of the cowardly and immoral Islamic terrorists. These terrorists have no feelings, no morals, no sense of reasoning, and deserve to be dealt with in the most severest of terms. Suicide bombings and mindless mayhem and violence are not signs of civilization, but that of barbarity and a primitive culture, and that’s exactly what radical Islam is. It’s a cancer that if allowed to metastasize, is definitely going to plunge the whole world into ruin. We need to, therefore, make people aware of the threats of Islamic extremism, make them realize the dangers it poses, and hopefully, in the same manner, unite the world in a global fight against this disease. You’ve taken a big and bold step in that direction through your site as well as through your book, and if the myriads of mails you have received are anything to go by, you’ve been very successful in that endeavor.

Radical Islam, however, is not just about guns and bombs and killing innocent people, but about the mentalities, mindset, and outlook of Muslims as well. There are many Muslims who, even though they might not actually participate in these cowardly acts themselves, either support them or share a mentality much on the same lines. I do not live in an Islamic nation, but I’ve lived in Muslim-dominated localities much of my life, so I’m aware of the reasoning and thinking standards of these people. It’s like they don’t want to peacefully coexist with people of other faiths or even break out of the age-long shackles that have held them back all these centuries from progressing in life. It’s the 21st century, yet they, for reasons best know to them, prefer to live in the ice age. It is, therefore, imperative that Muslims change their attitude and ways of thinking, and bring about new reforms in the religion. Some of the reforms should include changing the attitude towards people of other faiths, stop thinking of them as inferior beings, respecting them and their faith, showing compassion and kindness towards them, and in return, expecting the same. Women should stop being viewed as inferior beings as well, or maids of the house or cooks of the kitchen. They should have the right to education, the right to work, the right to dress as they want, the right to marry who they want, and the right to make their own decisions in life, rather than having their fathers or brothers or husbands force their decisions upon them. There should also be an abolishment of practises like polygamy. These are just a few reforms to cite.

I hope that more and more people, Muslims included, educate themselves on the threats of radical Islam and join together in the battle against this disease that has plagued the world. It’s what is necessary to make the world a better place to live in. I, therefore, strongly support all those involved in the war on terror, as I do support my Jewish friends and their struggle for their rightful holy land that is Israel.

I once again commend you on the great job you’re doing. I hope there are more bold and courageous Muslims like you, and that more Muslims can come forward, braving the odds, and portray their feelings and show the world that Islam and Muslims are not bad as the world perceives them to be, and it is such Muslims that make me feel proud of being one myself.

Finally, I would like to offer my condolences and sympathy to the families of all the people killed in various terrorists attacks all over the world, especially to those of the innocent, young school children that have fallen victim in Russia to the mindless violence that is radical Islam. I pray that God give them peace in their heart and an end to their suffering, and bless the innocent souls that have so brutally and viciously been taken.

Sincerely,

Sarfraz Ahmed

A change is needed.

Posted April 23 2007

Hi, Nonie!
I want to, first of all, commend you on the good job you’re doing with setting up this site, as well as for bringing out such a well-written book dealing with the threat of Islamic extremism. I am a Muslim myself, and proud to be one, yet much like you, I realize the dangers terrorist and radical Islam poses to countries around the world. It’s not just the West that’s been witness to these appalling acts of violence, though, but Eastern countries like India and the Philippines have had to bear the brunt of radical Islam as well.

People need to realize the very threat radical Islam poses, and educate themselves on its dangers, and, if possible, act to do something about it. I believe, at the same time, a change is needed in the mindset and mentalities of Muslims as well, as well as new reforms brought into Islam, for it is only then can Muslims live peacefully with their neighbors, progress and prosper in society, as well as earn the respect of everybody. Acts of violence against non-Muslims should be strongly discouraged from a very young age. They should stop being viewed as inferior beings. Muslims should love and respect them, and in return, they will undoubtedly receive the same love and respect. There should freedom and equal opportunities for women. They should be given the right to education and the right to make their own choices in life. There should be an abolishment of practises like polygamy. These are just a few of the reforms that should be made.

Now, coming to the topic of Israel, I have to say I don’t understand why there has to be so much fighting over it, and why there cannot be a peaceful end to the crisis. Israel has seen a lot of war and bloodshed over the years, and still, there has been no resolution to the problem. People are just losing their lives, both Arab as well as Jewish, and any innocent human life lost in violence is not just tragic, it’s appalling. I fail to understand why the Muslims do not realize this and desire to hold on to a land that is holy to the Jewish community and every bit belongs to them. I strongly support my Jewish friends in their claim over the land, and desire nothing more than to see a proper state of Israel, a land that the Jews can call their own.

Once again, I laud you, Nonie, for the site as well as for the book you have written.

Sincerely,

Sarfraz Ahmed

Let us make peace

Posted January 20 2007

to whom it concern
I am interested in peace between our nations,I am a Jordanian citizen who is searching and asking our government an international leaders leaders to support an antiterrorist project I have been working on for some months.At this moment it is crucial to start a more strategic method of preventing a broader unsecurity that has been noticed after the hotel bombings. We must remove a bad idea about israel that israel is enemy. Let us make peace my friends.

mohammad

hello ..i hope live in israel

Posted January 1 2007

hello ... i am libyan guy .. i not free in libya .. i know more nice news about israel .. i wish leave libya to israel .. but its so hard .. i need help me how i can go to freedom country ( israel ) .. i have 32 years .. mechanic engineer ..
i waiting ur reply .. thank you very much ..
my greeting to israel people

Greetings from Galilee

Posted January 1 2007

Dear Sir/Madam,
Eid Al-Adha Mubarak, Hag Hanukkah Sameh, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
May God bring Freedom to Palestinians, Security to Israelis, Equality to Arab Citizens and Peace to Middle East.
Wish you all happiness and good health. God bless you for supporting humanity.

Best Wishes,
Kassim

Peace again and again

Posted January 1 2007

Hi,
I believe we the younger genaration can achieve better than our fathers for our children in the Arab Israeli conflict. We gut have to knoe eachother better and learn more about eachother. So....can you help me in finding a site or a way of comunication with these future peace makers. I would be very happy if we can plan for a meeting each year some where and talk and discuss about issues that matter to us for example. What am thinking of having a forum or an organisation or something like that, something that has members and only talks about love and not hate, no religion issues, no discrimination ....no no no, am sure you understand what I mean. Something for the younger generation. I always think that we will all die one day.....why do we live in such a bad world if at the end we are going to die. Its just a matter of time ! Look to Iraq, Palestine,Israel itself. I dont think that I will be happy if I feel threatened whenever i go to a mall or catch a bus, nor I will be happy if an Isreali soldier calls me in Ghaza and tells me that I have 5 minutes to leave before my house gets a messile. You know what the problem is (I believe at least), we Arabs and them Israelians dont know, dont believe and dont trust each other. We are humans and so they are, why did Europeans live in harmoney after all the wars and the dead bodies they had, because they knew that this does not help and because they know eachother know. I can talk and talk and talk but without having someone to share these thoughts and this someone shres them with someone then all my thoughts are useless I believe! Any way, take good care and hope we can achieve this one day.

I donno if am just waiting your time with this email....I just can not find a way to communicate with Israelians, Arabs or non-Arabs.....Could you help??

Thanks allot.

Rami
A Palestienian

Genuine Feeling

Posted November 29 2006

Hi Nonie,

I don't know exactly why I am writing to you, but I feel I have to contribute something to your cause. I am Arab, a Muslim Arab, and I live inside Israel. I am one of those called "Arabs 48" (The minority of Arabs who stayed in Israel after 1948). I have Israeli citizenship because I was born in Israel... but I never felt Israeli.... apparently because I am not, and I do not want to be Israeli...
On the surface, the only thing that connects me to the concept of Israel is the Israeli passport I hold wherever I go. However, living among Israelis and communicating with Jews everyday, has established great bonds that are rooted inside me and can never be broken whatever Israel does. I have Jewish friend who I would never change for anything in the world.
Sometimes, I just watch the news and see what Israel does in Gaza or the West Bank, killing innocent people and I feel sorry for that, and many times I even feel empathetic and I can figure out why an elderly woman, whose both sons and husband have been kulled by the Israelis and her house bombed, would blow herself up at an Israeli checkpoint.... but then I realize that the Israelis don't really want to kill Palastinians... they don't want to kill anybody at all... But these Israelis are our little scared brothers who are doing "everything" and would not deter to use "any" method to survive and keep this little state safe. So I excuse everything they do and every method they use.
Israel to me is like a flower in the middle of the desert (the Middle East). This flower must florish and be nurtured forever.

best wishes
Ibrahim Sajrawi
Turan, Israel

I support your mission

Posted November 29 2006

Dear Nonie

I was recently directed to your web site. I find it very refreshing that you promote a moderate understanding reflecting Arabic attitudes of reason towards Israel. I have always believed (and still do) that the ultimate resolution of the Arab/Israeli conflict rests only with mutual recognition and respect of each party's freedom, security, self-determination, and human rights. I support your mission and wish that you make enough strides to affect a brighter future in this troubled part of the world.

Dr. Omar M. Amin

Why not peace with Israel?

Posted November 29 2006

Since our father is only one man, Abraham, we the arabs and you the jews have the same father. We have had, since than, a great relationship until the big forces in the world have interveened to spoil it.
After the holocaust the Jews thaught were to go, and they came to their cousins, the Arabs. But the problem is that the Arabs did not welcome their cousins like they should, with flowers, but with war !!
I think this is the reason our area could not become like Japan or Switherland and has become the contrary, living hell every day !!
There is only blood shed between us!
The terrorists are the others that do not want peace to come forth in our region, political interests are those that do not let Irak, Lebanon and Israel be peacefull and calm...
Well, let us try to make peace now, if not for us, then for our chidren and our grandchildren here to come!! The Jewish people are our cousins and we should make peace with our cousins.

A testament of support for Israel

Posted November 25 2006

I am a half Berber/Arab and quarter Jewish (grandmother from mother side Jewish) of Moroccan descent who grew up in Algeria during the 1950 and 1960's because of massive immigration to Algeria after WWI. Most of my friends I grew up with in Algeria were Jewish. We spoke Algerian Arabic dialect and French language, we played together, we shared food, marriages ceremonies, even mourn deaths of close relatives together. Their families knew our families. We live in the same neighborhood. After the independence they all left and I cried, I was barely in my teens. I did not understand why they left. I understood it later. They were running for their lives, because the secular rulers thought they were collaboraters with the French, of course they were not. They were after them because they were assimilated to the French culture. The Muslims did not see any difference. But they were also educated Arab families that lived with the French and were also assimilated. Here is where the crux of the problem is situated. Why target only the Jewish community? Why do you go after them, humiliating them, and killing them, Why? As a kid I knew all these things, I was taught the "life" history of my Jewish friends. The new secular rulers and their new comers from the mountains who took over the properties of the Jews, had never lived, shared cummunally with the Jews. They remained anti-jewish.
After the departures of the Jews, life was fine for a few years but then things started to go wrong, economically, socially and politically. It was time for my family to immigrate to France, we were too assimilated to live under the gun of "half-baked" socialism run by uneducated idiots, and erratic islamic fervor that curbs individual rights and freedom. The latter (muslim extremists) have caught up with the former (secular rulers). We joined our fellow Jewish compatriots in exile. At least the jews have Israel to go to and feel safe, because Israel as a state as no other major importance than being a state where any Jewish person going there will never be told "you are not welcome here". That's what is unique about the state of Israel. Israeli Arabs enjoy more freedom of movement and speech than any one Arab citizens in their own country.
I think what Muslims need to do is to read history, particularly jewish history, because it has occured right in their background as a place and as history. Muslims are ignorant of Jewish history, if someone is to call that modern "Jahilia", I would agree totally. Why can't they read the history of their patriach Abraham which they have usurped as a Muslim from the onset? Why is this level of ignorance and maltreatment of everything Jewish so ingrained in the psyche? Why is the level of apathy so high about history of their Jewish consins? What I noticed is the deep ingnorance of history of humanity itself.
The Jewish kids I played with were like me, looked like me and were not too religious either, my family was secular too. Religion played a minor cultural role. Being secular at heart (jewish and Arab) brought us together in a common destiny and understanding.
I was also surrounded (to a small degree) with anti-semitic diatribes from the culture,(but never within my family). My family and friends have given me the alternative knowledge that counter this twisted ideology, myths and stereotypes about the Jewish poeple. The knowledge was based on the facts of history. It is this history, this knowledge that Dr. Sultan has discovered in America recently.
The religious bigotry found in Muslim countries is beyond belief. The religious teaching of hatred of the others is widespread even among the so called secular arab states for their deep seated anti-jewish propaganda found in their childrens' educational books and material. The muslim extremists have caught up with the secular arab brothers in their anti-jewish propaganda.
My point is this: islamic or secular it does not matter, the end result is the same illogical hatred of the others due to the twisted and malignant education and brain washing propaganda. Proper education based on critical thinking could play a role, but how many generations should the Arab nations loose before the veil of ignorance is taken away? Because we are seeing that there are many people (islamic and secular) determine to fight on, nothing matter to them.
Their mass media shows the worse of the worse in propaganda and lies. From Iranian politicians, Saudia Arabian clerics and university professors all are saying the holocaust did not happen, using the old Eastern European anti-semetic literature and cartoons. They might as well say the Jewish poeple are fictional and never have existed until the creation of the state of Israel.
It is very distrubing what one hears from their TV stations. It is the same diatribes against the Jewish religion, Christianity and Westertern values. There is even a clip of a children program (a cartoon) depicting the Jews as monkeys and swine (as depicted in the Koran). That was so sick that I could not beleive it. How many children have watched that program? They are many like that targeting the adult public. But how can any religion prides itself for allowing anyone to depict any group of people that way. What type of religious belief is this? It should not be part of any religion. Why it was allow to stay in the Koran, that's beyond me.
Muslim will defend their faiths even if you show them the unbelievably amoral thing, like the "monkeys and pigs" depiction of the Jewish people in the Koran suggesting that the whole story is intended for all bad people who do not heed Allah's words, although it was the jews who were depicted in the Koran. I think it is sorry excuse.
We know exactly from historal documents written by well known Arab historians from the 7th to 13th century that the Prophete Mohamed had many problems with the Jews of Arabia, because they did not accept his prophetic message. But why should they? On what ground should they accept his message just like that? What could be more functional and befitting to critize a group by depicting them as subhumans.
What struck me the most about this whole business is the somewhat peaceful and Zen like stride the Jewish people in Israel and elsewhere deal with these stereotypes and nasty propaganda targeted against them. It is sort of sublime. It is just like Jesus saying: if someone stricks you on one cheek, turn away and give them the other cheek. It is this that struck me to be sublime about being Jewish. It is the coolness, the deep moral sense of what they feel they are as individuals. This is what set Israel apart from all nations. A nation of refugees from Arab countries, where they left libraries, homes, cemeteries, and a culture, and of course refugees from the European extermination policies. Any human suffering perpetrated at a large scale can never be quantifiable, and the Jewish people have suffered so much throughout humanity. But I am sure that no one group have suffered in history than the Jewish people. I make this statement with conviction and without hesitation because of the facts of history. There is no comparison, let's be frank and say the truth.
Instead of learning from their cousins sufferings in Europe, Arab muslims are trying to inflict the same sufferings again of people that are so close to them linguistically, ethnically and culturally. What is why I support Israel, not because I am neither Arab or Jewish but I support it on its moral standing and the heritage of overcoming all odds to survive and adapt to changing time.

Sammish

With all my admiration

Posted November 26 2006

I just found out about your views, your endeavor, your journey by accident while surfing the Internet... I can't express enough with words my admiration for your position, your integrity, your honesty, your mission...
I was born in Tunis, reared in secular family, never fasted during the Ramadan nor learned how to pray or went to a mosque since my both parents were secular...As a kid I went to churches and to temples since my best childhood friends of my neighborhood were Jews, Italians or Maltese Catholics...By the way my heritage and my features are berbers...
I was so bitter when the majority of Tunisian Jews left after the Six Days war of 1967 for France despite President Habib Bourguiba plea to reconsider and to stay in their homeland... My Tunis was never the same: it became orphan and it had lost its soul for ever...
How the most beautiful, eloquent, rich language, in my opinion, is not reflected in the deeds, the journey, the destiny, the future legacy of its own people and societies?
Shame on me, shame on you, shame on us who speak, who feel the Arabic language not to do our part to call for the "socio spiritual" awakening and the "cleansing" of Arab societies from the cancer of hate, resentment,despair, paralysis....
I feel that we must speak out about the tragedy of a beautiful "tribe" that lost its essence, its soul, its contribution to the humanity since 1500 AD... The new cancer invading some Arab societies is the legacy of the oppression, the resentment, the despair of people imprisoned in their own land and manipulated by their own "imposed" elite or leaders to serve their own "raison d'etat": maintain the power and reap the wealth...
It is sad and tragic that Arab and Moslem societies can't have a real constructive "renaissance" to get out of the darkness they inhabit believing it is "Maktoob"...
I feel honored and humbled my thoughts have echoed in your long, challenging, but not impossible quest to salvage a culture and its people from self destruction...Again continue the good work and looking forward to reading your book and staying in touch... Would you please let me know how I can contribute more actively to help in fulfilling your noble vision and dreams...

Respectfully yours,
anonymous

Arab Brothers: The War with Israel is OVER

Youssef M. Ibrahim, a former New York Times Middle East Correspondent and Wall Street Journal Energy Editor for 25 years, is a freelance writer based in New York City and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.

For the full article, see: http://www.standwithus.com/news_post.asp?NPI=900

Support Letter from Morocco

Posted September 24 2006

It's a long time I wanted to write you. Today I decide it and want, firstly, to express my regret about what happened last time in lebanon. I am deeply concerned because many innocent people were victims of the conflict. Then what is said from the Iran leader is not acceptable. So that because I write you this letter to support israel people against any form of threat. I am moroccan. We have suffred enough from radical muslim dictatorial treatment and I support you to put an end to these hostilities. I hope that my letter wil be sent to the Israel leader to express him my point of view and my support.

Mohamed

Greeting

Posted September 24 2006

There are many similar point of views between us. If Arabs would made peace with Israel along time ago, the Middle East now would a high developed zone based on a great formula: the money of Arabs and the brain of Israelians. Besides, we are cousins (Arabs and Israelians).
A lot of hard work have to be done to get rid of terorists. These terrorist are empowered by dictatorship Arab states.
We keep in touch.

Best regards,
Riad Awwad

Salutations

Posted August 26 2006

Salutations
I'm a 26 year old woman born to Palestinian immigrants. I've been thinking a lot about way in which I could impact the status quo in the Middle East, and I've concluded that the only feasible thing I could do is to make my voice heard. I want to start a peace movement in the model of what you already have, albeit more active and louder. That is key, I want to be active and I want to be heard. It's an absolute atrocity that the voices like Ahmedinejad and Bin Laden's are the main voices dominating the mainstream media, and we MUST change that. Theirs are not the only opinions in the Arab world, and we must let the world know that.
So I would like some advice, if either of you would be willing to give me a couple minutes of your time. What do you think of my idea? I know a couple of Arabs that would join my movement, but what can we do?

Hey Nonie

Posted July 13 2006

hi,
I got intersted in your issues that you've discussed and I 100% support you, but miss.nonie i want to tell you about a great deal in my home country YEMEN which is that a student who dont desreve get a schoolar ships to USA holding their hatred and Racism and terrorism with'em, meanwhile student like me who do support ISRAELI case we are avoided from all of the public community , so i wish from to help as much as you can , and god bless you and bless ISRAEL.

faithfully
[anonymous]

From Syria

Posted July 1 2006

dear nonie: I'd like to thank you very much for this great initiative ,I believe that our way to acheive peace in the middle east is by reaching out to the other side and start building bridges to get to know and communicate with Israelis because without communication and understanding the opposite point of view there will be no peace .
I wish you all the best and I'll try to spread the word about this site as much as I can thanks again and good luck.

best regards
(Syrian student at university of Damascus)

From Iraq: my heart with you

Posted July 1 2006

I am citizen from IRAQ my heart with ISRAEL and I will supporte jewish people from IRAQ and I wish to read my attached message:
تحية طيبة
تلقيت ببالغ السعادة والسرور رسالتكم الجميلة وقد يكون ما سأقوله ليس من صميم عملكم أو له أهميه أو ارتباط بعملكم ولكني لم اجد او اعرف جهه استطيع التحدث اليها بخصوص
ما ساقوله لذلك وبعد اطلاعكم على رسالتي ارجو التفضل بارشادي الى الجهه المعنيه
سيدي العزيز
منذ ان رات عيني النور في هذه الدنيا وانا اسمع واشاهد الاذاعات العربيه والاسلاميه وهي تحرض وتدعو وترسخ كل معاني الحقد والكراهيه لدولتكم وتدعو الى قتالكم بل وتمجد من يفعل ذلك ليست الاذاعات فقط ولكن كما تعلمون كل ما يحيط بنا في مجتمعاتنا الاسلاميه والعربيه تدعو الى ذلك ولكن ما حدث معي انني طوال حياتي لم استطع الايمان او التصديق بذلك ومن الامور الكثيره والتي لااستطيع ذكرها الان والتي دعتني الى الشك بما يدعون ( ان كل كتب التاريخ الاسلاميه وغيرها وحتى القران تشير بل تعترف صراحه بجذور اليهود الجغرافيه والدينيه وغير ذلك) من هذا المنطلق ومن خلال قرائتي للقران وبعض الكتب التاريخيه ومن خلال عقلي وظميري والاحاسيس والمشاعر التي نشأت معي منذ الطفوله توصلت الى حقيقه مفادها ان المسلمين والعرب يعيشون وهما كبيرا هو انه لا حق لاسرائيل في ان تكون لها دولتها التي هي تاريخيا وشرعا وقانونا لها الحق في ذلك وهم (اقصد المسلمون والعرب) يدفعون
ثمن هذا الوهم

سيدي العزيز
ان كل ما قلته هو قطره في بحر مما يختلج به صدري وكل ما اتمناه ان ترشدوني الى جهه رسميه استطيع من خلالها التواصل للمعرفه والاطلاع اكثر فيما يخص قظيتكم المقدسه والتقرب اكثر من الشعب الاسرائيلي والتعرف عليكم اكثر لانني وكما تعلمون ان الدكتاتور صدام وغيره قد حرمونا من التطلع والتعرف عليكم لان ذلك يعد جريمه حسب قوانينهم اللعينه
اعتذر للاطالة في رسالتي واتمنى لكم النصر والتوفيق والحياة الحره الكريمه ولاعدائكم الموت والهزيمه
ملاحظه: استطيع التحدث والكتابه باللغه الانكليزيه ولكن اردت التعبير بحريه فكتبت الرساله باللغه العربيه لذلك ارجو المعذره

التوقيع
صديق من العراق

From a Syrian in Romania

Posted May 19 2006

Greeting

On May 15th, 1948, the world was the eyewitness of a new created island of democracy, humanity and freedom. It is the Israel's birthday, a day of peace and love. Long live the Israel! Long live the peace with their neighbirhoods, the Arabs. Let's all live in peace, love and respect!

Riad Awwad
Syrian Citizen, now living in Romania
Ambassador of Good Will from Middle East Info Israel

Israel land for jews and land for hummanity

Posted May 13 2006

Shalom,

My name is Arif ****.I am from Pakistan but living in Switzerland.As I opened my eyes I came to know from the people around me Israel as an enemy to the Arab and muslim world .But as I went abroad in europe I came to Know that Israel is not an enemy.Israel is a responsible land.To survive around Arabs and Iran, Israel has to react to protect the borders .As I am a hotel school graduate,I met many Israelis.One girl told me that she has a lot of Arabs friends .I just want to tell to mullahs please stop negative propagaganda against Israel.If Pakistan has a good relations with America,Turkey,and Arab world,why cant we recognize Israel.Pakistan and Israel can work together for the good.Pakistan can take benefits from Israel and viceversa.Let the politicians of both countries open their eyes and work for the good will of people.Me myself I want to come to Israel and work. LET THIS MY LETTER BE THE BRIDGE BETWEEN TWO GREAT NATIONS.lONG LIVE ISRAEL AND pAKISTAN.shalom

with best wishes,
ARIF ****
Switzerland

Hello from an Arab living in America

Posted May 13 2006

I just want to say hello to you and congratulate you at your courage for standing up for what is right and ethical. Supporting the state of Israel, in my point of view, is an honorable thing to do. Israel is the only democratic country in the region, and furthermore,is a fulfillment of our God promises to His People, Israel. All the best for you and your family. I hope that we can become friends one day.

(anonymous in American city)

From an Arab Canadian Student

Posted May 13 2006

Dear Nonie,

I am proud to know that people like you do exist and people like you do have the drive and the energy to voice their opinion about what is right and what is just. These things come only from the heart of experience and struggle and only those who have a feel for justice are the ones who understand the meaning of it. It will be my pleasure to hear you today at York University and for the first time, and I hope that I will be one of those who will join your steps and your voice to promote freedom.

Best regards,
(anonymous)

From an Arab-Iranian Muslim

Posted May 13 2006

My Jewish cousin, our religion is one, our grandfather (Abraham) is one. I always feel that way whenever I come close to someone who is Jewish. I must admit growing up I have come across people in my community with hate against Jews...which made me more curious to know more about the religion and it's people. And I am glad I did, because the more I educated myself the more I discovered how similar we are. I beg you that you don't look at these maniacs (terrorists) to generalize all Muslims as them. Today I read about the Egyptian bombings in Dahab and I am sick to my stomach. This is not islam, at least not the Islam that I was taught. I want you to know there are Muslims out there (like me) who embrace the jewish cause because we recognize it as "family". Israel belongs to the Middle East, and the Middle East would not be complete without it. But recognize that for Muslims, Jerusalem is also a special place. Don't give up your dream for Israel. There is plenty of space in the Middle East for all of us !

Cousin, welcome home!

Shalom/Salam
Amir

From a Syrian-American

Posted April 15 2006

Dear Nonie,
I just want you to know I support what you're doing. I'm a 15-year living in North Carolina of Syrian parents. I've listened to too much Anti-israel and Anti-jewish rhetoric on the part of Arabs over the years, both muslim and christian. While it's true that the Israeli state has done bad things to arabs living there, too much of the hate has turned into blind hate, instead of working for a peaceful change. I pray every night that the future will someday let the light of peace and love shine on the troubled region of the Middle East. God Bless you and your cause.

Sincerely, Omar

From Egypt

Posted April 15 2006

dear mr or mrs.
dear israel
i am ahmed from egypt i am 21 years old. i love israel alot
i live now in dahab in red sea. and i wish if Egypt and Israel can be friends. My dream is live and work and study and have wife in israel pls try to help me to get me there or u know any organization can help me pls tell me have nice time and happy days wait for ur answer. Have a nice day

thanks alot

From a Palestinian

Posted March 31 2006

I was born as Palestinian, but I came to realize the lies and the grand deceit of our Muslim culture.I believe that the Lord God gave the land to the people of Israel, the apple of His Eye.

From Lebanon

Posted March 1 2006

hello Ms.N.Darwish

i'm a Lebanese guy livng in italy
i'm really proud to find some people like you , i like what you write and how you think about the islamic world and the musslim today. and i think our big problem that is the little people like you .
please excuse me about my english, and accept my congratulation .
i wish you always the best .

Muhamed

From Malaysia

Posted March 1 2006

Dear Nonie

Its really nice to find a site where the rhetoric is conciliatory and forgiving. At the moment there's too much hatred in the Middle East even before the 9/11. Right now in Hollywood there's a new film called "Munich." Again I am not sure how much bad rhetoric will arise from the movie screenings.
I am living in Malaysia and we can also feel the hatred perpetrated by the offensive cartoons. For me a cartoon is cartoon and its supposed to be a lampoon (despite its offensiveness). I also see a lot of Palestinian children who are raging against the Israelis and I thought a number of them (throwing rocks) could have been politicians achieving the Palestinian causes rather than throwing rocks. With Hamas now in power we can just pray for the lay people especially the children to get justice in their lives, if they do not have proper education rather than the rhetoric of hate and destruction.
Its really nice to know that individuals like you have graced the feeling of "Peace that God is in you," and have rejected and renounced violence even at a very tender age. But there are not many children or even lay Middle Easterners who are sympathetic to logic of peace and stability. I do understand their predicament especially the Palestinians being uprooted from their homes and families disengaged and disintegrated and a lot of them condemned to being refugees and homelessness. Nevertheless, I think its time they need to look at things in a realistic way and bury the hatchet. If they sit down and start to go towards the direction of peace the Palestinians and the Arabs will most likely end up as beneficiaries to success even more so than Israel. If you look at history, the Arabs invented writing materials, science, medicine and philosophy. Civilisations began in the Middle East and not Rome, especially in Persia and Egypt.
As such I pray for the next few months how the Palestinians are going to shape their policies.

Salam,
'anonymous'

god bless israel

Posted March 1 2006

hi,
As I Always Say Israel Is For Jews Becuase It's Their Land As The Book Of Gensis Said In The Old Testment.
I Soppurt Israel In Every Way Possible, And I Hope That Israel Is Doing The Same Thing To Me In Return.
I Look Forward To Hear From You.

Best, Saleh

From Tunisia

Posted March 1 2006

hi
I love this coutry i was there more than 5 times, more i go more i like and love it, ithem if i go for business but i find the time to see israelis friends and go out in that lovely country. I'm Tunisian originally but i leave in italy from 18 years ,and i spoke to all my friends and family about israel,my brother hope to meet me there because im going by the end of the month,but he is afraid that hin visa will be declined. Please someone can tell me how can he do to have the visa??
loooooooooooooooooooooooovely israel

Best, Saleh

From Yemen

Posted March 1 2006

I am Muslem-Arabic Person Lives In YEMEN Of Course You Will Be Amazed How I Support Israel In Such Terrorist Country? The Answer Is I Always Been Told In School "Israel Is Our Enemy", But I Refused To See Things From One Prespective And Searched For The Truth So I Learned So Far That I Should Not Let Any One Obligate Me On His Point Of View.

Here In YEMEN The Only Way To Make Good Relations With Israel Is By Making Invetments In YEMEN That Help Young People So With The Time The Relations Will Become More Than Good I Hope So.

Best, Saleh

From Jordan

Posted March 1 2006

shalom ;

I'am Fares and my age is 27 years. Probably I don't care for religions, but the important point is we must support, love and good dealing with Israel people and government.
I like Israel country .
We must be union to fight terrorism .
Thx;

Fares

From Saudi Arabia

Posted January 1 2006

If I had enough wealth I’d send it to you despite of those radical backward people in our (Arab) countries. Israel is the center of their discussions and their gatherings are never fun without cursing and insulting it. They say Israel is our first enemy and never stop to think for a moment without their blind prejudice. If they do they would discover that terrorists are all Muslims only, Bin Laden, Zawaheri, Zarkawi etc. What has Israel done to you fools? Considering Israel as an enemy is the wrong assumption because we all know we have a more dangerous enemy hiding within our nations. Their imagination is far from reality. Their claims sometimes make me laugh. We once received a guest who was a fat sheikh with a beard. When he saw the picture of a beautiful woman on the bottle of a shampoo he said: Without hesitation or thinking that this is Zionist propaganda trying to attract young Muslim men to pursue pleasures. Believe me; they believe these accusations which they invented in the past for unknown reasons. When I visited Turkey last year I got to know some Israelis and enjoyed their company. Thank you. Please leave us alone to coexist in peace.

I love Israel

I love USA

Anonymous

Freedom

Posted January 1 2006

Dear Nonie

My name is Mahmoud from Egypt. I found your website by accident when I was on altawasul.net. I have read your biography. I felt that I read somthing about my self. I am very proud of you and I hope to be friends.

Thanks a lot

Yours, Mahmoud

Support from Saudi Arabia

Posted January 1 2006

Dear Nonie

I am a student inside the Kingdom. i called myself friend of Peace, friend of all people who love to stay in love with others.

Good Luck

anonymous

My compliments to you

Posted January 1 2006

Ms. Darwish,

I would like to extend my sincere compliments to you for your frank and courageous words against a cancer that is slowly eating away at our core foundations of liberty and democracy. I am an Iranian journalist who knows only too well the wrath of the evils in our world and applaud you for your preeminent website.

Keep up the good work.

Respectfully,

anonymous

Moroccan For Israel

Posted January 1 2006

Greetings to all the peace makers.

Thank you Nonie for this web site, where Arabs supporters of Israel can speak and express their opinion. I'm a Moroccan, who loves the Jewish people and support Israel and it's right to exist in the holy land and set Jerusalem as it's capital. Furthermore, I would like to take this opportunity to denounce anti-semitism and all those who call for the destruction of Israel as a nation and the Jews as people.

Let us all pray for the peace of Jerusalem and God's blessing and protection of Israel.

Al-Gharib

Arab for Israel

Posted January 1 2006

I'm happy to find your web site and like it very much. It's really great things to see a large numbers of Arabs coming out to serve the Cause of peace for all and thanks to the Internet that got us all together for the sake of peace in the Middle East. Seems to me that you're very intelligent, courageous and strong young lady Which I like and admire a lot in a woman, Let alone an Arab woman! I'm very proud if you. It would be very nice and fair if it was called Arabs for peace in the Holy land or in the Middle East and we must condemn all kind of violence because I never supported any kind of violence against the people of Israel or the Palestinians it's morally wrong.

...I like to thank U and keep up the good work.

Sincerely,

Mohamed Arab American

I am an Egyptian Australian

Posted January 1 2006

Shalom to all, i am an Australian born Egyptian, it makes me so proud to be Egyptian and see all my brothers and sisters in the middle eat for israel! when i xame across this site it made me so happy, i am 17 years old and loved to be informed about the middle east. with my father being a german and against jews was very sad but not anymore, set free and loving it! all i can csay i am so happy that their are many Egyptians worldwide that feel the same as me, i feel like crying im so happy.

anonymous

Together for Peace

Posted January 1 2006

I am a syrian journalist that lives abroad. Because I like peace, especialy in our region, I always think that between people there should be a good relationship, regardless of the type of gouvernation. One thing is in my mind for a long time now. If we could put toghether the financial power of the arabs and the inteligence of the israeli people, we could move the world. Whith all the money that the arabs put to waste on the war to Israel we could do many other things, like building a democracy, investing in health or wellfare. We should work toghether to bring about the most wanted peace, if not for ourselves, than for the young generation that stands behind us.

With compliments,
anonymous

2005 Archive

From Bosnian Muslim

Posted December 6 2005

Zionism is Jewish ethnic consciousness. Nobody can deprive any ethnicity to have its national dream. Zionism does not upset because there is no goal to exterminate anybody. Peace can come if we recognize Israel and Jews as legitimateinhabitants of the territory. All arguments who was first who was second has to stop. Violence must stop. To speak, talk, communicate does not cost much and all can gain on long run. Jews and Muslims have more in common than differences. I was twice in the synagogue for Saturdays. I have recognize many things. Each movement they make remind on us. I am certain any Jew feel similar when he goes to the mosque. We can survive together but never separately. Israel is only one fully democracy in the Middle East. You are free to speak but not to kill. Speak up, please!

Hallo Nonie

Posted November 24 2005

Hello from Sweden.

Hello the I am a 24 year old muslim guy living in Sweden whos is completly in love with the Jewish people and Israel. Like any other muslim I grew up to distrust and the jewish people , not from my parants really but from my muslim friends who are really brainwashed. Its was the hate that lead my curiosity to find out more about jews. More I started to read and find out about jewish history and religion I became more intrugied. And when I started my secondery school and made a Jewish friend who was in my french class. He invited mee to his home and I was warmly treated by his parants. One day in school we hade a visit bye a holocaust survivor name Emerich Roth. Just the way Maha discribed her feeling when she heard Jack teeling about his experinced. I felt the same way. since then I was reading everything I could get a hold on to about the Holocaust. Last year I went to krakow/Poland on weekend vacation and went Auschwitz. OH MY GOD. How can anyone deny the holocaust. It bleed my heart to hear actually some people denying it to this day. Other ad this is the arab Jews who were chesed out their homes from Morocco to Iraq. What a Loss to our muslim nation. What bother my all the time when you hear arab and muslim leaders blaming all their misery on the jews insted off facing reality off their own mistakes. To all muslim who are reading this mail i recommend a book called ( THI NILE ) written bye (LAURIE DIVINE) its actually a Love story about a Jewish boy and a muslim girl. It takes place in egypt in late forties earlu fifties. Its about their life and how hee is forced to leave egypt and leave evrything behind becuse off the persecution of nasser goverment. May god truly Bless The Children if Israel. The most unfortunet and missunderstood people of the world.

Sincerly

Your bigest fan EVER.

Bilal Said

I like Israel

Posted November 24 2005

I like israel and all the industrial countries and israel is the miracle of the history because the first one became a country is in 1948 and the others has a long time in the history but are nothing in world

Mohammed from Algeria

Asking Information

Posted October 12 2005

I am Iraqi civilian arabic and muslem, in spite that i came from a family with along political history I never was very concerned with poltics even after the changes in iraq, I used to have the same idea of all arabs that jews are the enemy until a few weeks ago when I watched Steven spielberg'ss movie Shindler's List. I was horrifed by what I have seen, and decieded to find the truth because any people suffer that torture do not have the evil that our arab history books say, I hope I did not talk much but I wish if you can help me to where I can find ways to comunicate with israeli sites and people to help me understant the truth and help other people I know to that too, thank you.

Yours, xxxxxx

Discussion over Israel's recognition has begun across Pakistan

Posted October 12 2005

You should see this: http://www.jang.com.pk/thenews/vf/q43.htm

You guys are not alone in Muslim world! If Palestinians are in peace talks with Israel, I don't see any harm for Pakistan recognizing Israel. This is not an era of conflict.
Anonimous

New Friend From Yemen

Posted October 12 2005

Hello I am guy from Yemen my name is ----- My age is 27 years. I am really support Israel and also I spend their months in prison because government called me I am boss of net spies work Israel and US and I got allot off torturing from police men now I am free and I am getting more faith. Israel must be friend and live in peace with it.
Actually no one in my country can believe of that maybe he is afraid or he hates Israel. If you interested send to me answer and tell me how I could help to support Israel. I am brave and I believe in my thoughts. We must live in peace with each other enough war enough hated. We must find solution.
Bye for now
Your friend ----

Yes Indeed ... Ameen

Posted October 12 2005

As a muslim/sufi I support and respect what you said. I also have some good jewish friends including a wonderfull Rabbi and his wife whom i shall tell about your site if that is ok with you. Gd/Allah/Jehova/Elohim bless you my dear friends
wa salam alaikum
peace be with you
and alhamdulilah
ed khaffaf/SRS

Another Supporter of Israel from Egypt

Posted September 18 2005

I know about ArabsForIsrael and I do like that site a lot. Ever since i was a little child, i had a problem with how people view Israel. I always had Israeli friends when i went to Sinai, and i believe Israel is a country that we should be proud to have in our region and as our neighbor. I always noticed the way Palestinians always refused any peaceful move on Israel's part because the Koran tells them that the Jews are misleaders. They want to commit terrorism and then allow Israel to make peaceful moves and then they'll think it's because of their so-called 'resistance'.
I'm usually not politically correct when it comes to Islam. Muslims always think that the whole world is against them, they're all full of that conspiracy theory. Isn't it alarming how the whole world has problems with Islam? Isn't it alarming how each and every terrorist attack anywhere in the world nowadays is done by Muslims?
I support Israel with all my heart as it faces such terrible mindsets and such ugly terrorists.
Sincerely,
Mamduh/Egypt

The Egypt Blog

I support your views

Posted August 7 2005

I read with great interest what you wrote in ArabsforIsrael and other links.I find myself completely in agreement with what you wrote. I am Jordanian and I study in the US and I salute your comment about being loyal to the American Flag. Well done Ms Darwish and i hope there will be many other muslim women like you.

An Arab American for Israel

Posted July 9 2005

I am so glad I stumbled upon this sight.. I am an Arab American and it grieves me to see such hate even with in my own family. I have also heard some horrible things about Muslims and how Islam is a religion of hate. I KNOW that is not true. As I poured through all these articles I felt joy and a lot less tenstion. I am an Arab Christian who longs to hear more Muslims speak out against those who hate, and support the fact that the majority of Muslims are a peace loving people.
I love Israel because God loves them. I've been called a Zionist, Jew lover, etc, because of it and I do not care. When you stand up for what is right you will face opposition and criticism, but let me say this, all of us who support the middle east, Israel and Palestine, as the children of God, in one family, will be criticized by Jews and Arabs alike, but we will be working together. I pray this web site, and the articles of these well learned people, will spur on a movement of peace in the middle east, and the world.

A Big Fan from Egypt

Posted July 9 2005

I can't express enough how much I am grateful for the existence of Some one like you, cause it meant I am not the only one who thought this way. I am an Egyptian male. I decided that I shouldn't be silent about the other things that happen in my Country and the amount of hate directed towards the US, Israel, Jews and Christians, so I created a blog that I am glad to report is growing in popularity despite the amount of hate directed towards it from other fellow Egyptian bloggers. The URL , if you wanted to view it, is egyptiansandmonkey.blogspot.com . If you went and visited it I would be honored.
Egypt is boiling these days, and if anything happened to Mubarak the Muslim Brotherhood is bound to take over and whatever religious tolerance Egypt had regarding Christians will be eradicated in 3.4 seconds.
Thank you again for being you and for saying what you say. I have been catching up on your articles and I have to say that I agree with everything you have said so far. You are asking all the right questions and making all the good points that need to be made. God Bless you.
Sincerely Yours,

[Anonymous]

An Egyptian living in Poland who supports Israel

Posted July 9 2005

hi to all and i want to say that iam happy to find people from arabian country who can say that the proplem not in israel only but the proplem because there is people who dont want to live in peace.so really i want to say that all people in every country concering in proplem in middle east must think about the suitation and must find answer for many question about what happend and what waiting to happend if will not be peace between israel and arab country and replace hating to each other to loving and care about each other .really it is enought for both side what happend in all this long years from wars and killed people.i think the time no is suitable for start new relation between isreal and arab because we r so close from each other not only because we r in near country but also because arab and israel came from one family and theymust be treat as one family not as enemy.really from inside all my heart i hope to replace the war and hate by peace an! d ! loving .we can do alot of things if we be together and i hope to see this in near time .and iam ready to help to have this dream to be true

[anonymous]

Posted March 6 2005

I really appreciate your efforts and wish that you give me the opportunity to express all my support in the battle against hate and ignorance.I`m Tunisian.
I have a full respect of the great Jewish people and friendly feelings toward Israel, the only democracy in the middle east.
Anonimous from Tunisia

Posted March 6 2005

Be Optimistic

Dear,Nonie ; hi

How're you friend? hope that you` re fine & every thing is ok...
Dear, I agree with what you said , really , Israelis are like every one ,not satans, not angels, they`re normal people like us,, I have a good relationship with some of them ,to my surprise,they treat me with a lot of respect , they `re good, sincere &very very civility, in fact they `re more polite than I expected...ISRAELIS are ,indeed, civilized people.
Dear, I think that you want to know my opinion about the situation in egypt ;
Faithfully, I`m like you too, I sometimes wonder!!, but I`m sure that the most of egyptians hate war so much, may be they hate Israel too, but they don`t want to fight it once more.
In my opinion, they hate Israel because they don`t know it as is,, & no doubt hatred of Israel in the arab world due to some of common false information about it.
I like Israel because I have genuine ideas about it, & I look at it as a great model in every way.
Any way ,I know that there `re several & various problems between Arab & Israel .SO we should waite for a while, peace needs enough time to come true.
I`m confident that this conflict will be solved soon,& peace will prevail
I`m optimistic & I invite you to be more optimistic, WILL YOU BE;;;?
Hope to keep in touch
sincerely
ABDO

Posted March 6 2005

Blind Hatred

My very dear friends
When the CNN was presenting part of the funeral of AlHariri today( the ex. PM of Lebanon) the Muslim crowed was shouting the following in Arabic:
"Khybar....Khybar....Ya Yahood......Ghish Mohammed Sawf Yaood"........
this is a threat to Jews which means:
"Remember Khebar (When Mohamed killed all Jewish men, raped their women and enslaved all their kids)...O'Jews....The army of Mohammed are coming back to annihilate you"
This can simply tell us that the real borders that are needed are Ideological Islamic Borders to stop this disgusting blind hatred to the Jews...........Imagine it......an Islamist group most likely supported by Syria announced its responsibility for killing Alhariri....Yet....Arabs want to revenge from the
Jews!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
With much love and a very big hug to you all
Tarek

Posted March 6 2005

Together For Peace

I am a syrian journalist that lives abroad. Because I like peace, especialy in our region, I always think that between people there should be a good relationship, regardless of the type of gouvernation.
One thing is in my mind for a long time now. If we could put toghether the financial power of the arabs and the inteligence of the israeli people, we could move the world. Whith all the money that the arabs put to waste on the war to Israel we could do many other things, like building a democracy, investing in health or wellfare.
We should work toghether to bring about the most wanted peace, if not for ourselves, than for the young generation that stands behind us.
With compliments,

Riad

Posted March 6 2005

A Great Adventure

I`m very pleased to write you my first Email, & I would like to congratulate you on this great web site, I really appreciate your ideals & respect your confirmation to Israel. I`m peaceful man & i`m interested in peace.
But I think that we must take a different way to achieve the true peace, at first we must stand for to build communities of peaceful then we can look forward to establish normal relation with Israel.
I know with certainty that the desire for pease resides in every human heart & sooner or later the peace will come true despite all the barriers.
My dear, excuse me I don`t know , why don`t you use ARABIC language while you `re an arabic lady and you can write in arabic very well?
AS you know the most of arabs like me are not perfect in english, so i think it`s very important to address arabs in thier own language, Don`t you agree with me.
Awaiting your reply with great interest.
Once more I congratulate you on this great website & i send my best wishes to you .
from Abdo
almansoura city --- egypt

Posted Feb 14 2005

Posted Jan 24 2005

You Have My Support

Assalamu-Alaykum Nonie,

I just wanted to say that I too believe that Isreal has not only the right to exist but can be a positive partner in helping to bring democracy and reform to our people.
I live in the UK, but my father came from Egypt (my mother is English) - I am a Muslim and teach at an Islamic School in London.
Of course it is not a view that is very popular amongst Muslims - but one that I feel is honest and realistic!
I believe that there is an urgent need for honesty and realism amongst Muslims and a an urgent need to reform age old ways that have nothing to do with the true spirit of Islam.
I believe that we can only reform and drag ourselves out of the mess we are in by looking very honestly and critically at ourselves and not be afraid to face up to some very painful introspection and strong criticisms.

Best wishes and Salams!

Hassan.

Posted Jan 24 2005

Greetings from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Dear Nonie;
I am very delighted to find your website recently. It was introduced by Adina of San Diego, USA after I posted an email to JerusalemPost.com regarding my plights to go on learning tour to Israel. By the way, I'm a male Muslim who share the same idea of
undestandings Jews in the right and correct perspectives of our religion - Islam. I always believes that a true Muslim must look and analyse him/her self and stop blaming others about their predicaments. Islam is a religion of Peace and Harmony, every
Muslims and non Muslims must cherished that. I have this dream of going to Israel and have an experience to learn and understand about Jewish people, it's religion, culture and living, country and non Jews in Israel. Coming from Malaysia it is not that easy to realize this dream. Just pray and hoping
the day will be sooner. Meanwhile, I am now gathering more info about Israel and its people by reading and e-mailing thru' internet almost everyday.
It's all about it now for a start. I will definitely hook-up to your website and propagates your quest as a step to create a world at peace.

Salaam.
Regards,

Ismail Ibrahim
Kuala Lumpur.

Posted Jan 24 2005

Salaam Alaikum,

I was a Hindu Indian who converted to Islam in 1999. I was disgusted with the caste system and inequality that still exists in my native land. Islam's message of universal brotherhood and euality initially attracted me. I chose Islam through my own research and drew my own conclusions. However, I can say this much- had Islam been explained to me by some of these radical, Jew hating Sheikhs, I would never have looked into it. I have been told it is my duty to hate Israel and Jews now that I chose Islam. I am an Indian from a Hindu background; why on earth should I hate these people who have never done me or my people any wrong? Although I still profess Islam, unfortunately I have toned down my associating with other Muslims as well as visits to the masjid. I believe Allah/God/Yahweh has blessed me with a beautiful combination of compassion and discernment, which I refuse to sacrifice. It was the Jewish people who first conceived of one true God that is responsible for all creation. Prior to this, man worshipped trees, rivers, and other such manifestations of God. This was truly an evolutionary leap of consciousness, and for that the Jews will always have my deepest gratitude. Israel has been an oasis of tolerance in an otherwise autocratic, totalitarian region of the world. We Muslims are so quick to brag about our brotherhood yet look at the Sunni/Shia violence. Look at the horrible treatment of Palestinians in places like Saudi and UAE. Look at the Royal Family's hatred of any interpretation of Islam that questions their narrow minded point of view. Lets make our own beds first shall we? Contrast this to Israel's compassion for the Soviet and Ethipian immigrants and the high security provided to worshippers at Al-Aqsa. Who is showing more brotherhood?? I rarely express these views with other Muslims because the response is so predictable and drab I dont bother. You, my sister, however are truly a breath of fresh air!! May God bless all the! p! eace loving people of this world!!!

Posted Jan 24 2005

Amen

as a muslim/sufi i support and respect what you said. i also have some good jewish friends including a wonderfull Rabbi and his wife whom i shall tell about your site if that is ok with you Gd/Allah/Jehova/Elohim bless you my dear friends

wa salam alaikum

peace be with you and alhamdulilah

You Have My Support

Posted Jan 8 2005

Assalamu-Alaykum Nonie,

I just wanted to say that I too believe that Isreal has not only the right to exist but can be a positive partner in helping to bring democracy and reform to our people.
I live in the UK, but my father came from Egypt (my mother is English) - I am a Muslim and teach at an Islamic School.
Of course it is not a view that is very popular amongst Muslims - but one that I feel is honest!
Arabs (and Muslims) can only reform and drag ourselves out of the mess we are in by looking very honestly and critically at ourselves and not be afraid to face up to some very painful introspection and criticisms.

Best wishes and Good luck,

Salams...

Posted Dec 31 2004

Dear Nonie, I came across your wonderful website "Arabs for Israel." As an Arab myself living in Jerusalem, let me say that I fully support your view and efforts. I, too, was raised to hate Jews only because they happened to be Jews. Recently, I started studying Hebrew in an institute at Jafa Street in Jerusalem, and I met the most wonderful Israelis. They treated me with respect. I felt complete as a woman, unlike the way I have been made to feel living in my own culture. It's like I've been born again. I even now watch Israeli TV. I want to learn the Hebrew language as quickly as possibile so as to enteract with more Israeli friend.

When I saw your website, it was as if I found exactly what I was looking for. You can't imagine how happy I felt. I totally agree with you that Israel is the greatest thing that has happened to this troubled region. We, Arabs in Jerusalem, are enjoying all the benefits and services provided by this country. My parents tell me how poor and miserable they were under the Jordanian rule before 1967, and everyone knows the suffering of the Palestinians living in Gaza and the West Bank because of the corrupt dictatorship they are living under.

Please carry on your great effort, and I'm willing to help in any way I can.

Let's pray for peace.

Love,

********

Posted Dec 31 2004

There was a time in the history of Islam and the World when the phrase “Muslim Intolerance” might have been considered an oxymoron. Today, however, the open-minded, tolerant Muslim seems, sadly, to be in the minority.
Our Muslim community is filled with a seething rage at something they cannot define so they call it, the way of infidels, unbelief, America, or “the Jewish Conspiracy”.
I have just been a victim of this madness and intolerance last Friday at my local Mosque after Friday prayers. I know many of you have stopped going to the mosque because of this idiocy, but I won’t stop. Anyway, I had given an outspoken Anti-Israeli Arab Muslim an article to read, written by the founder of “Free Egyptians”. It was not a very confrontational article; written in Arabic and English, suggesting that the Israeli-Palestinian debacle might be better served without violence…WOW…I was really surprised by the viciousness and hatred I brought down on my head, and I didn’t even write it! So much for the calm exchange of ideas that some of you tell me to engage in…the incident strengthened my resolve to keep going to this Mosque that would like nothing better than to see me gone. I wrote this little piece on my return home.
The whole contemporary Arab-Palestinian culture, so it seems to me, is based on hatred…hatred of life…hatred of Jews…hatred of America and the west. The poor Palestinian people themselves have been manipulated and all but destroyed by corrupt leaders (with billions of dollars in the bank) and Islamic-Fascists that have twisted Islam and The Quar’an into a system of hate. Please don’t write to me and tell me I am against the Palestinians and oblivious to their struggle, I am not…I am against terrorism, violence and murder as a means to achieving their goals.
They have even taught this system of hate to their children. These children, and those yet to be born, will never be able to make the ascent into a new world. They will have new bodies, with new fresh blood in them, born for a new epoch of peace and co-operation among Mankind. Surely, that’s what children have always been born for, to usher in a new age, with new bodies and blood, a new song in their mouths.
However, from where I stand, I fear the twisted hearts and minds of their Fathers will still inhabit their new bodies and blood. The hatred shouted and whispered into their new ears will deny them a life…their new blood will be spilled in vain, never to sing the new song of freedom from tyranny and hatred.
I pray for the children…born and unborn.

Hi, Nonie:

I just heard about you and the website from a televised report on the 700 Club, and was very moved by your courageous stand and efforts in support of understanding among Semitic peoples. I am an Arab-American of Syrian origin, and I weep when I hear my Arab friends voice the hatred and distrust of Jews that is so prevalent in the Middle East. I will pray that God will continue to bless you and that this forum would be effective in moving hearts and minds toward peace and reconciliation.

Sincerely,

Jackie

Hi,if course under another name , as u know the are a lot of fanatics arabics in all the world ,im palstnian live in syria since 1967 , born in syria , my family came from tibiriade in 1948 but that must be end , why we cant get syrian nationality , so we suffer a lot because we cant travel any more outside syria, libanon deny give us a visa also jordan and egypt the same when we travel if we are luky to get the visa to jordan of course we must have invitation and must be give him account bank with the sum of 35oous dollars , so you see we im hate arabic country i think isarel treat very good arabs in israel but the are same fanatics people dont want arabs lives with good relation with israeli peoples which i respect their religion and im saying always thus people wroth civilation , arabs dont know the true reallety , they close thir eyes in front that, so i can speak more about this lovely country isreal wich i love one time to visit it and give my congratulation for thus people .cheers please dont mention my name , but please when u publish the article , send me on ecopy to my e-mail , im proud to say that and alove very much the democracy of israel and his culture thanks

Progress?

From a general point of view, I see a relevant progress. Nonie Darwish - whom I had the pleasure to know during my last speaking tour in North America - has recently founded "Arabs for Israel", and I hope her initiative will be successful. In the same time, in Canada Sarah Nasser has founded "Muslims for Israel", ana some Muslims students at the University of Toronto are actively cooperating with her.

Shaykh Prof. Abdul Hadi Palazzi
Director
Cultural Institute of the Italian Islamic Community
http://amislam.com
mailto:islam.inst@flashnet.it

As-Salamu Alaykum,

I am a student of Egyptian origin at UCLA. I would like to start a similar
group to yours on my campus. Do you have any tips for doing it?

You can post my views anonymously on your website.
I support Israel because I see it as a model for all the Arab and Muslim
nations in the Middle East. Israel is ages ahead of its neighbors in all
terms, democracy, human rights, science, technology, and its time for
countries like Jordan, Syria, Iran, and others to catch up. Work with
Israel and good things will happen.
Anonymous
Reply
I am going to volunteer my time to any college group that starts ArabsforIsrael on its campus.
Nonie Darwish
----------------------------

Tue, 15 Jun 2004 15:12:46 -0400
From: <i.mumin
To: <nonie@arabsforisrael.com>
arabs for Israel...thank you

assalaamu alaikum Nonie...How fortunate I am to have found this website!!! I have been trying to get the Muslims I come in contact with to see the horror of Palestinian Terrorism (and all Terrorism) and it's detrimental effect on the world's feelings towards Islam.
As a convert (15 yrs.) to Islam from a Jewish family, I have been accused of everything from being Pro-Israel and "not a real Muslim" to being a spy.
I have written many articles and letters to Islamic organizations over the years and have received very few answers and these answers were always angry. So. Now I no longer feel like “a voice crying in the wilderness”
I have taken the liberty of sending some of this correspondence to you and I want to thank you again for your views, your courage and your website.

America is an empire built on strength and the dignity of the common man. Such empire building is part of Islamic history. America gives its citizens, immigrants included, the right to practice the religion of their choice, much like the Islamic Empires of the past.
America gives the chance for education for all regardless of race, religion, gender or even sexual orientation.
America gives more money in charity and humanitarian aid than any country in the world, including the oil-rich Muslim countries. Where is the charity of these so-called Muslim countries that are bound by the Qu’ran and sunnah to give to widows and orphans?
I fear Muslims in America will be led into the trap of blaming the USA and Western civilization for our own faults and shortcomings. We must look to The Qu’ran and the sunnah and to ourselves for guidance and listen not to the doom-Sayers who would have you believe that Muslims in this country are in some sort of danger.
Denounce terrorism and talk Islam.
Your Brother in Islam Ibrahim Abdul Mu’min i.mumin@verizon .net
------------------

From: "ayman"
Subject: Hello! :)
To: <nonie@noniedarwish.com>
Greeting to you, Mrs Darwish,
I don't even know where to begin!

Your articles are magnificent, honest, accurate and much to chagrin of the arab/islamic world, you hit the nail on the head every time!

I'm sure you're all to familiar with the nasty rhetoric in response to your articles, "she a zionist", "she's a jewish agent" etc etc.....I find this hilarious! This is the same exact reaction I get when I post one your articles on various discussion boards on the net.

I hope you continue to shine the light of truth in the dark face of islam/arabs. These people need a major jolt, and you're just the person to give it to them.

More power to you!
I'm not a religious man, but.....god bless you & yours :)

I think all 300 million inhabitants of the middle east should stand in a big line and express their gratitude to you for bringing them into the light of truth.

I am very pleased to correspond with you, you have my utmost respect, I hope you continue to write articles that will make the arabs think deeply and apply some self-criticism, and maybe give them enough courage to facilitate major changes.

You are very eloquent and direct. Most of all, you are brutally honest, this quality I admire more than anything else simply because it is so very rare.
Best Regards
Ayman

From: Anonymous
Subject: Re: Israel a state of mind

I've read the article by Mr. Tashbih Sayyed, "Israel - a state of mind" on the arabsforisrael.com website and I am glad that finally muslims/arabs are speaking up against their oppressive and (exactly as you put it) Totalitarian Islamist regimes and demanding that Israelis given the right to their own home. They say the real threat is radical muslims like Osama Bin Laden, but I say the real threat is Wahabist governments like Saudi Arabia. I am a muslim living in Canada. I grew up in the UAE which strictly and blindly follows religious principles and school books written by Saudi Arabian and Kuwaiti scholars. I
grew up being taught that Jews (not just Israelis) are the enemies of Islam, we are taught about the Protocols of Elders of Zion like they are indisputable facts and they call the Holocaust a big lie invented to get into the payrolls of Swiss banks.
When I came to study in Canada, I met the first Jew, who was also Israeli. He was studying Law and he told me a lot about his country. I learnt things that I never knew before, like that muslims and christians lived peacefully alongside Jews inside Israel. And that there are many Jews against illegal settlements and the killings of innocent palestinians. That prompted me to take a course in Middle Eastern Politics (Ironically taught by an Israeli professor) and it opened my mind even more towards the kind of peaceful relationship (or brotherhood, rather) that muslims and jews have had together for many centuries. And that Israel should be a true example to muslim countries: A democratic, technologically superior state. Then I sat
one day and wondered why we have grown up to hate jews so much. Is it
because the jews have occupied palestinian lands? Is it because muslim
governments are jealous of the attention and power that Israel is getting?
Then I realized that the answer is much simpler than that. It's the Arab psyche. Islam came to change that, it came to give women freedoms, introduce a democratic society and abolish tribalism. But the more I think about it, the more I realize that arabs are returning to their old pre-islamic ways of collectivism, egocentricity, oppressing women and triballism. And if anyone tries to tell them otherwise, they resort to the usual rhetoric of calling you an apostate (as they have done to me) and a brain-washed, weak-faithed and naive arab. Moreover, the arab governments feed on this tribalism because it allows them to rule with an iron fist, undemocratically and oppress women, whom these governments are obviously scared of.

I absolutely agree with you that the prophet's traditions have been tainted; besides the fact that the rules of determining which Hadiths are true (sahih/hasan) and which are false (dhaeef) were determined by knowledgable, but yet simple humans. And humans make mistakes, especially if they're relying on interpretations of someone who's heard from another throughout more than ten generations. Listen to the words of God that humans neglect:
Quran 45:6
"These are the portents of Allah which We recite unto thee (Muhammad) with truth. Then in what fact, after Allah and His portents, will they believe? "Note here that "Fact" here is actually an inaccurate translation from the arabic word "Hadith" (speech, or words). Isn't it Ironic that God used the specific word Hadith for this verse?

And whatever happened to that Hadith in which the prophet supposedly had said: "Do not write anything you hear from me except the Quran, and whoever does otherwise, should erase what they have written." to me, this sounds like a command from our prophet that we should not institute a form of Hadith. Then why do they force Hadith upon us in school as if it is an authority equal to that of the Quran? Moreover, I've seen many people who see Hadith as the perfector of the Quran, an obvious and seriously fundamental error.

These are the very Hadiths that contradicts the quran in that women are seen therein as less of humans than men, and Hadiths in which we are ordered to kill non-muslims when the Quran teaches compassion to everyone that does not oppress you, regardless of religion. The very Quran that tells us that christians, jews, sabians and any person who believes in God, the day of judgement and is a good person will find his reward with his Lord (Quran 2:26) Moreover, terrorists are misusing quotes in the quran to win the public opinion of simple-minded arabs and muslims, they refer to verses of killing pagans and unbelievers (which refer to the Idol-worshipping Meccans of Quraish at the time of the prophet) and neglect the fact that these titles don't refer to christians and jews. The quran specifically calls them People
of the Book. And also specifically mentions that there are sects in
christianity and judaism that are purely monotheistic akin to islam,
therefore, muslims have no right whatsoever calling Christians and Jews
non-believers. God is the judge, and as the bible says "Judge not lest ye be judged." which is something that most muslims do not adhere to, especially when God tells us that "There is no compulsion in religion. Truth stands clear from error."

So I propose a set of simple solutions:
1. Arabs have to reform their educational systems and allow for a more
unbiased outlook towards the world, the United States and Israel.
2. Get rid of the totalitarian, egocentric and tribalistic mentality.
3. Poverty in the poorer muslim countries has to be faught severely instead of spending so much money to fight terrorism. Look at the roots of terrorism: Poor people who go to madrasas funded by terrorists, because there's nowhere else to go. And if your government doesn't listen, then charity groups have to be funded to collect money in order to build proper schools. That's how you get rid of terrorism.

Once people in muslim countries are educated enough and women are given
their rights, then it's time to rise up against their oppressive governments and demand a change.
p.s. You may publish this mail on your website if you wish, however I'd
prefer to be anonymous in that case
Anonymous
------

Tue, 8 Jun 2004 11:13:31 -0700 (PDT)
From: muqeem ahmed
Subject: LOV ISRAEL
To: nonie@arabsforisrael.com
sha-LOM,

I Love to Israel and people of Israel.I want to save innocent people lives in Israel.I want to get knowledge of jewisam and want to migrate to Israel.Please help me to get knowlege and give me Courage.

sha-LOM

REG-gah
Wed, 9 Jun 2004 02:19:44 -0700 (PDT)
From: muqeem ahmed
Subject: Re:I LOV ISRAEL and people of Israel.
To: nonie@arabsforisrael.com
sha-LOM,

to-DAH for your Nice reply.You are right That I am muslim but I am in favour of Innocent people living in Israel.I am from Pakistan and there is no supporter to Israel.There is no single center for jewisam teaching.I studied much about Israel and people of Israel.They are loveable and need our support.
I have completed my amster in IT and now I want to go to Israel but I have no idea how to go there and save our humanbeing there.
I am very thankful to you that you have replied my mail.I need your help in supporting for Israel and people of Israel.
Thanks
sha-LOM

nonie@arabsforisrael.com wrote:
Dear Muqeem,

I salute you for your compassion and support of Israel and
its victims from terror. From your name I guessed you are a
Moslem. What country are you from? I would like to know more
about you.

I personally do not live in Israel. I live in the USA. I'm
like you would love to visit Israel and express my love and
admiration to the resilient and wonderful people of Israel.
My god take away the pain and suffering of all the people in
the area.

However, I have two good websites that can teach you a lot
about Judaism.

www.Jewfaq.org

www.US-Israel.org

The following two e-mail are posted as proof that the way Islam is being taught and interpreted needs reformation:

E mail from a convert to and out of Islam:
: Sun, 6 Jun 2004 21:32:42 -0500
From: Hadar E Saleh
Subject: Wish I had Known Of You
To: nonie@arabsforisrael.com
ASalaamu aleikum! How wonderful it is for me to see this beautiful
website. I am a Jew, by no means an enemy of Islam, but naturally hate
and fear the AlQaida types who want to destroy Israel and Jews just
because we are Jews. I was an exLutheran, who converted to Judaism and
later, because I thought myself incapable of keeping all the Mitzvot, to Islam. It was no one's fault but my own; I was weak-willed in those days and felt myself unworthy.

At the time I converted to Islam, I thought it was the "Middle path," as the Quran says. The version of Islam I found in America seemed a gentle religion. The verses which told of the Jews and Christians being saved as well as the Muslims reassured me that I could be Muslim without hating Jews or Israel. I had always had an affinity for Israel and Jews, but thought that Muhammad was the Messenger of Allah. It was obvious, I thought, because he forbade Jahilia Arabs to bury their daughters, and eased some of the restrictions against women.

However, after I had already made my commitment to Islam, I married a
Saudi, and one year thereafter we moved back to Saudi Arabia. As soon as I began listening to the radio there, I knew I was in trouble. I found that they preached certain Hadiths that said that in the final days, there would be a war against the Jews, and that a Muslim would be
obbligated to kill Jews, men, women, and children. They also said that
my parents, Lutherans, and all the people I had loved in Judaism, were
headed for Hell. I simply could not believe that God would delight in
sending people into an eternal fire when it is really very confusing, and when so many Jews and Christians strive with all their hearts to worship God devoutly and to live moral lives.

I lived in Saudi Arabia for 17 years, but at the end of that time, the
emphasis on hate, killing, Jehad, and exclusivity in salvation made me
unable to remain any longer. Upon returning home, I returned to the
House of Israel. I simply cannot live in a place where I am expected to hate the people who have been kind to me, and more important, whom I
witness doing deeds of lovingkindness.

Perhaps, had I known there were still Muslims like you, I would still be one. As it is, I am grateful for your noble and holy efforts. It is comforting to know that there are still Muslims whose minds are not
clouded by hate. Keep up the great work.

If you wish, you may e-mail me at this address.
Sincerely,
Hanifa Saleh
------------------------------------

The following is a letter from a Moslem from India:
I am from India.We were/are braught up to hate and despise Hindue,Sikhs, Christians and Jews as well. We are told to be muslim first and loyalty with Islamic Country ( Pakistan). This teaching did not help for the muslim minority, we were/are being doubted to our loyalty with mother country, thay are right, as majority of us always rooted Pakistan in conflicts and even rooted in sports,etc. Arabic is not our even second language, memorisation of Suras and able to read without understanding that best we could do. We were denied real Islamic History and Hadiths. Lot of censorship was in effect and not even allowed to asked ? about the fate of non-muslims
( Hell) and why?. As we grow up with other Hindue and Christian friend, frienship stopped after leaving School, we were/ are not allowed to visit nonmuslims ( Kafir) home nor they could visit us. There are many other thing as you know well...
Anonymous

Subject: good job

I'm just a regular American but my wife is an Israeli Arab Christian and I am so glad to see a site like this one. We both have many Arab Christian/Muslim friends, as well as Jewish Israeli friends. in fact, our 2 children have Hebrew names. we have great respect for Israel and only want things to be better for everyone in that part of the world. while I cannot separate my wife's family ties from my feelings, my sympathies are with the Israelis in the conflict because freedom is at stake. We hope to live there in the near future and i would rather have my family live under the supposed "Israeli oppression" than any form of "Islamic freedom." call me selfish, but i do not care about the land - I only want a place where we can have lives with liberty in the middle east. give the Palestinians their land, if they want it. We just pray that they will stop the insanity then.
Consider us supporters of this cause because this is our stance as well. It is good to know we do not stand alone.

regards, robert b

----------------------------------------
Subject: We Support Israel
My father and I are Arab, and we support Israel and condemn violent acts against anyone. Thank you for speaking out and encouraging others to do so.

Peace be upon you and many blessings.

The Mahdis

----------------------------------------
Subject: GLAD TO HEAR ABOUT YOU
Dear Nonie
I was very happy to see your wonderful concepts in your website.
I am very impressed because I share with you in these views but probably from a different angle as you will see in the attached document.
Years ago I started a good peaceful sect in Islamic religion that promoted most of your great views but unfortunately the power of darkness was much more powerful than me as I was virtually fighting the evil thoughts by myself.
Have a look on the Quranic verses in the attached document and let us think together how we can give light to people in the Islamic world.
Love and best regards
Tarek

Tarek sent the following attachment:
Israel in the Quran

2:47 Children of Israel! call to mind the favour which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all other nations.

2:122 O Children of Israel! call to mind the favor which I bestowed upon you, and that I preferred you to all other nations.

7:137 And We made the children of Israel, who were considered weak (and of no account), inheritors of lands in both east and west, - lands whereon We sent down Our blessings. The fair promise of thy Lord was fulfilled for the Children of Israel, because they had patience and constancy, and We leveled to the ground the great works and fine buildings which Pharaoh and his people erected (with such pride).

17:104 And We said thereafter to the Children of Israel, "Dwell securely in the land of promise":

10:93 We settled the Children of Israel in a beautiful dwelling-place, and provided for them sustenance of the best: it was after knowledge had been granted to them.

20:80 O ye Children of Israel! We delivered you from your enemy, and We made a Covenant with you to give you the right side (the blessed side) of Mount Sinai, and We sent down to you Manna (special food) and quails.

26:59 Thus it was, but We made the Children of Israel inheritors of such things (the promised land)

45:16 We did aforetime grant to the Children of Israel the Book the Power of Command, and Prophet hood; We gave them, for Sustenance, things good and pure; and We favored them above all other nations.

44: 32 And We have chosen them (the Children of Israel) above the 'Alamîn (mankind, and jinns) and our choice was based on a deep knowledge.

32.23] And certainly We gave the Book to Moses, so be not in doubt concerning the receiving of it, and We made it a guide for the children of Israel.
[32.24] And We made of them Guiding Lights and leaders to guide by Our command as they were patient, and they were certain of Our communications.

[17:104] And we said to the Children of Israel afterwards, “ scatter and live all over the world…and when the end of the world is near we will gather you again into the Promised Land”.

(Comment : This last verse proves that the Quran is declaring that it is the will of G-d himself to gather the children of Israel again in their promised land before the end days. Accordingly, No Muslim has the right to interfere with gathering the Jews in Israel again as this is the will of G-d himself. In addition, Honest analysis of the Quranic verses above leads to the conclusion that the West Bank and Gaza are better called the “occupied” Israeli land.

----------------------------------------
Subject: Very proud of you
As-salamu 'alaykum (Peace on you)

I am very glad to know that there is Arabs and Moslems so open minded and peaceful as you are.

I am Mohamed Pascal Hilout, member of the Mouvement des Maghrébins Laïques de France and the initiater of "the new islam" with three foundations :
- Liberté : freedom of thinking, of criticism and changing his faith
- Justice, that means equal rights for our sisters, mothers and wifes
- Paix (peace) that means the end of the djihad of our ancestors.

Last year, I proposed for an israelian-palestinian delegation here in Paris that Arafat should offer to Sharon to come and pry with him in the Al-Aqsa Mosq and invite also the Pope to pry all together in the nativity Church.

I have an other project : we arabs, moslems, christians, jews and non religious persons around the world we should buit again for our humanity the temple of jerusalem as a basis, on the second terrasse we bild a church between the jewish temple et the Al Aqsa mosque. The three prying place should communicate together and we should have at least a prying day for the all the three communities. With this project I am sure we will ensure peace for the coming generations and restablish Jerusalem as a town of peace.

Now you know that you are not alone

From: Khaleel Mohammed

June 1, 2004

As a Muslim, when I read Q5:21 and 17:104, I can only say that I support that there must be an israel. The Quran adumbrates the fight against tyranny and oppression, using the Children of Israel as an example, indeed the prime example. While I may therefore disagree with some policies of Israel, as I disagree with the policies of many countries, cannot find any reason why, as a Muslim, I must oppose the existence of such a state. And I will ask fellow Muslims to remember that the classical non-Quranic literature of Islam drew upon importations that were patently judeophobic in nature. And that we should be more careful and not imbibe these traditions. Only when we can come to grips with reality will there be hope for peace.

Prof. Khaleel Mohammed is Assistant Professor at the Department of Religious Studies at San Diego State University