In Light of Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Anti-Semitism, CURE Hosts Roundtable Discussion in Saint Paul to Discuss Defending Israel

On Mar 22 The Center for Urban Renewal and Education (CURE) hosted a roundtable discussion called "The Israel Question" at the Saint Paul University Club in Minnesota. CURE decided to host the roundtable in response to Representative Ilhan Omar’s (D- MN) repeated anti-Semitic remarks.

CURE event

Star Parker, President of CURE, opened up the event by showcasing how the event was intended to invoke a “robust conversation” on how christians, muslims and secularists can all live in the same place “without tearing each other apart.” She also notes how CURE exists “to tell the truth in a time when [they’re] seeing too far much deceit, especially in Washington, D.C.”

John Hinderaker, President of the Center for the American Experiment, touched on how alarming it is that the “energy of this anti-semitism is being pushed by these young, new members of Congress, including Ilhan Omar, and it’s pushing their party further to the left…” adding that anti-semitism has found a new home in the progressive left.

Darryl Hedding, U.S. Deputy Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, said that it is distressing that we have seen such a resurgence in “religious hate crimes… against Jewish people” as more than 50% of all hate crimes in 2017 were directed toward them, according to the FBI.  “When you consider Jews only make up 1.4% of the population, that is a shocking statistic,” he continues.

The panel also touched on Rep. Omar’s comments that the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) pays politicians to support Israel. “The first country to recognize Israel was America” Parker mentions, adding that the United Nations voted to recognize Israel in 1948. “Let’s be clear, there was no AIPAC or lobby group in 1948” she concludes. Hinderaker sheds light on just how far this comment from Rep. Omar has taken the democratic party in that “MoveOn.org has Tweeted out that any candidate who attends is not a true progressive… This is something just five or ten years ago would have been unthinkable.”

Faith and community leaders who sat in on the two panels included Star Parker (President of CURE) John Hinderaker (President of the Center for the American Experiment), Bishop Aubrey Shines (Senior Pastor of Gory to Glory Church in Tampa, FL), Daryl Hedding (U.S. Deputy Director of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem), William Green of North Central University in MN, and Pastor Brian and Denise Walker of Everlasting Light and Ministries.

Listen to the audio of the event

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Megan Olson

Megan Olson is a 2020 graduate of the University of Minnesota with degrees in political science and history. She works in public affairs in addition to serving on the Legislative Advisory Council for School District 196. She is also on the school board for FIT academy, a charter school in Apple Valley.