Despite Surge In Antisemitism, Biden Administration Harps On Islamophobia
In the weeks following Hamas' barbaric surprise attacks on Israeli civilians, we've seen an alarming surge in antisemitism. There have been anti-Israel marches in the streets and rallies on college campuses with protestors celebrating the murder of Jewish people.
So, naturally, the Biden Administration has one major concern: Islamophobia.
President Joe Biden strongly condemned Islamophobia in his address to the country Thursday, and he echoed those sentiments in a social media post Monday.
"I have said repeatedly that I will not be silent in the face of hate," team Biden wrote.
Of course, no decent human supports bigotry and hatred. But Biden's dismissal of the plight of the Jewish community while harping on Islamophobia is concerning.
And it's the same messaging across the board at the White House.
On Monday afternoon, a reporter asked Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre if she was concerned about the rise of antisemitism in America. But instead of answering the question, she said the real threat is actually Islamophobia.
"Look, Muslim and those perceived to be Muslim have endured a disproportionate number of hate-fueled attacks," Jean-Pierre said. "And certainly President Biden understands that many of our Muslim, Arab, Arab-Americans and Palestinian-American loved ones and neighbors are worried about the hate being directed at their communities."
(Photo by Sean Gallup / Getty Images)
Anti-Semitism — Not Islamophobia — Surges In Wake Of Terrorist Attacks
In March, the ADL reported antisemitic incidents hit the highest level ever recorded. And they've only gotten worse in the days since Muslim terrorists slaughtered 1,400 innocent Israelis on Oct.7.
Last week, the ADL found a 500% increase in documented antisemitic incidents in the United Kingdom alone. Hundreds of incidents were also reported in the United States and France.
"At anti-Israel protests, we have seen slogans justifying the Hamas massacre and deeply disturbing antisemitic images and rhetoric," the ADL report reads. "'Gas the Jews' was shouted in Sydney, Australia. Chants about the 'army of Muhammed' coming for 'the Jews' were heard in London and Geneva. Protesters stood outside a shabbat service in Washington, D.C. chanting 'free Palestine.'"
And in Berlin, Stars of David were painted on the homes of Jewish people.
No, this isn't 1940. It's 2023, and it's happening. Even if Biden and KJP don't want to acknowledge it.
(Photo by NICOLAS MAETERLINCK / Getty Images)
And why won't they acknowledge it? Pretty simple: politics.
"Islamophobia" is a word usually associated with the right wing, while most of the anti-Israel protests are being carried out by liberals.
Michigan — where a Jewish synagogue president was found murdered last week — has one of the largest Muslim and Arab American populations in the country, and they say their support for Biden was instrumental to putting him over the top in the critical swing state in 2020.
(Photo by KENA BETANCUR / Getty Images)
So Michigan state Rep. Alabas Farhat and other Muslim leaders are warning that Democrats risk losing their support if Biden and the party don't do more to combat Islamophobia and pressure Israel for a cease-fire.
"The Biden administration and Democrats as a whole are going to have to do a lot of work to rebuild some level of trust with my community," Rep. Farhat said. "It's never too late to do the right thing."
And in his mind, the "right thing" means prioritizing the appeasement of Muslims over the protection of the Jewish community.