As violence and hatred toward Jews continues to worsen amid the Middle East war sparked by Hamas’ terrorist attack on an Israeli music festival, one Muslim group is denouncing antisemitism in all its forms and sending a message to their Jewish “brethren.”
“We Muslims have one word for Jews. Shalom,” reads the headline of the message pinned to the top of the social media page of Muslims Against Antisemitism (@MAA_UK on X/Twitter). Posted on Saturday, the message that follows is a reprint of a statement tweeted by MAA when it was formed back in 2018.
When Hamas attacked Israel last month on October 7, the Muslim group immediately began condemning both the attack and those who take joy in it (emphasis added):
“Let’s be very clear. Celebrating the brutal murder of Jews (or Palestinians), is NO cause for celebration. Today, many people have lost their precious lives. Celebrating in cars at this time is horrible & shows utter contempt and antisemitism towards all Jews.”
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“Please watch out for each other at this time. Antisemitism must not be tolerated in communities because of what is taking place in the Middle East. Jews in the U.K. cannot and must not be targeted by those who carry the poison of antisemitism within them.”
“There is NO justification for murder,” MAA declared on October 8, the day after the attack, noting that “Killing Israelis going about their lives has nothing to do with a ‘free Palestine’ but everything to do with brutal murderous barbarism by fundamentalists.”
This in Britain. Celebrating the brutal murder of innocents as a ‘success’.
— Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAAS) (@MAAS_UK) October 8, 2023
Killing Israelis going about their lives has nothing to do with a ‘free Palestine’ but everything to do with brutal murderous barbarism by fundamentalists.
There is NO justification for murder. https://t.co/sF5voIngRo
“Relations between Muslims and Jews cannot be determined by the actions of Hamas,” MAA wrote on October 9, in a post condemning Hamas and all Islamist extremism:
“We reject the Muslim Brotherhood, offshoots like Hamas and Islamist extremists and their ideological ilk who use Islam as a cover for their twisted ideals.”
“Hamas are barbarians,” MAA added on October 31.
In other posts, MAA explains to Muslims that, if Jews feel safe, Muslims will be safe, as well, and that “You can cherish Palestinians, without hating Jews.”
Muslims Against Antisemitism echoed these sentiments in its “Shalom” message posted Saturday and pinned to the top of its social media page:
“For far too long, anti-Semitism has gone unchecked. Sadly, it has become entrenched across society. Its poison can be found in all political parties and among followers of all faiths, including Islam.
“Eradicating it is a challenge faced by all of us.”
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“[W]e stand firmly against racism directed at our Jewish brothers and sisters.
“As Muslims, we believe that our future peace, security and prosperity in this great country cannot be ensured while Jewish communities feel under threat.”
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“[W]e must be ever vigilant against those who cynically use international issues to vilify Jews or promote anti-Semitic tropes. There is no cause that can justify the promotion of hate.”
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“To our Jewish sisters and brothers, we say the struggle against one of history’s oldest and most virulent hatreds is not your fight alone but ours collectively.”
The message closes with a quote, in Hebrew, from the Book of Psalms:
“In peace, we say these words: Hiney ma tov u’ma-nayim. Shevet ach’im gam ya-chad.”
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity" is the English translation of the Bible quote.
Peace between Muslims & Jews is the only way. pic.twitter.com/uFIfa37154
— Muslims Against Antisemitism (MAAS) (@MAAS_UK) October 28, 2023