CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham discusses veteran reporter Helen Thomas’ criticism of Israel, and deputy managing editor of the Jerusalem Post, Caroline Glick’s offensive spoof of the Gaza Flotilla massacre entitled “We Con the World.”

“The irony is not lost on me that Israel would argue self-defense in a situation where it attacks peace activists in international waters,” said Ahmed Rehab, of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

“The United States should recognize, as Israel’s ally, that it must demand that Israel plays by our standards of respect for human rights and international law.”

“Israel is often dubbed “the Jewish State” by its supporters, so it is not out of left field to question whether its actions should be taken as a reflection of Jewish values,” writes Ahmed Rehab.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) today urged President Obama to condemn what the Muslim civil rights group called an Israeli “massacre” of civilians on a flotilla of ships in international waters seeking to bring humanitarian aid to the people of the Gaza Strip. Israeli commandos killed at least 10 civilians in a pre-dawn raid on the flotilla.

Israel’s attack on the flotilla has already been condemned by the international community.

Amina Sharif writes, “The conflict in Israel and Palestine is political, not religious. It is not between Jews and Muslims; it is between the government of Israel and the people of Palestine (who are Muslim and Christian).

“In reality, many Jews — even in Israel — sympathize with the Palestinians and criticize their own government’s policies toward Gaza and the West Bank.”

In his op-ed Nasatir highlights the amazing efforts by Jews in America and Israel in the humanitarian crisis in Haiti and for this, I truly commend them. But what about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine? Israeli checkpoints violate Palestinians’ basic human rights by denying medical vehicles and services. This contrasts sharply with Israel generously building a hospital in Haiti.

“It is not the fact that the Univ. of Chicago invited a pro-Israel speaker that offended so many. Rather, it is Olmert’s criminality that offends. It is the disparity with which the university treated its affected students that offends. It is the way in which they assured us that all views would be given a platform, and yet blatantly repressed the point of view of one group of people, that offends. And for this they must, at the very least, apologize,” says Christina Abraham.

Christina Abraham talks to Al-Jazeera about the University of Chicago’s inappropriate invitation of war criminal and former Israeli Prime Minister, Ehud Olmert.

Despite an abysmal record on human rights, he has been invited by the University’s Harris School of Public Policy, as a leader with a vision of “achieving prosperity through peace.” CAIR-Chicago’s Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham will address the hypocrisy of this invitation at a press conference outside the event. Also read CAIR-Chicago’s Action Alert regarding this issue,
HERE.

Olmert was prime minister during Operation Cast Lead in which Israel Defense Forces killed more than 1,400 Palestinians and wounded more than 5,300. Olmert is also responsible for implementing the siege on Gaza, now well into its third year. The siege has plunged more than 80 percent of the population into abject poverty.