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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nonie_Darwish
Nonie Darwish is a freelance writer, public speaker and founder of Arabs for Israel. The outspoken daughter of a "shahid" (martyr), Darwish attributes her father's death to "the Middle Eastern Islamic culture and the propaganda of hatred taught to children from birth". She states her mission is to "promote reconciliation, acceptance and understanding" between Israelis and Arabs.
Born in Cairo, Darwish moved to Gaza in the 1950s when her father, Lt. General Mustafa Hafez, was sent by Gamal Abdel Nasser to serve as commander of the Egyptian Army Intelligence in Gaza, which was then occupied by Egypt. Hafez founded the Fedayeen who launched raids across Israel's southern border, that between 1951 and 1956, killed some 400 Israelis. In July 1956 when Nonie was 8 years old, her father became the first targeted assassination carried out by the Israeli Defence Forces in response to Fedayeen's attacks, making him a martyr or "shahid". [1][2][3] During his speech announcing the nationalisation of the Suez Canal, Nasser vowed that all of Egypt would take revenge for Hafez's death. Nasser asked Nonie and her siblings, "Which one of you will avenge your father's death by killing Jews?" [4]
Darwish explains, "I always blamed Israel for my father's death, because that's what I was taught. I never looked at why Israel killed my father. They killed my father because the fedayeen were killing Israelis. They killed my father because when I was growing up, we had to recite poetry pledging jihad against Israel. We would have tears in our eyes, pledging that we wanted to die. I speak to people who think there was no terrorism against Israel before the '67 war. How can they deny it? My father died in it." [5]
After his death, her family moved to Cairo, where she attended Catholic high school and then the American University in Cairo, earning a BA in Sociology/Anthropology. She then worked as an editor and translator for the Middle East News Agency, until emigrating to the United States in 1978 with her husband, ultimately receiving United States citizenship. After arriving in the US, she began attending a non-denominational evangelical church. She no longer practices Islam because she feels that even mosques in the US have a radical, anti-American and an anti-peace message. About a year after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Darwish began writing columns critical of radical Islam.
Darwish's website Arabs for Israel describes itself as an organization of Arabs and Muslims who "respect and support the State of Israel", welcome a "peaceful and diverse Middle East", reject "suicide/homicide terrorism as a form of Jihad", and promote "constructive self-criticism and reform" in the Arab/Muslim world.
Palestinian native Kamal Nawash founder of Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism praises Darwish's work, but believes her decision to leave Islam dilutes her message. Nawash states, "She left the religion and now she's trying to reform it. We support her as much as possible, but the only people she can really speak to are the choir. Still, Darwish's voice is an important one no matter who listens to it. The Muslim community needs the controversy. For too long there has been a monopoly on who spoke for us." [6]
Book---
Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror -- awesome read!!
http://www.arabsforisrael.com/ -- Arabs and Muslims who Support the State of Israel and the Cause of Peace in the Middle East
Who Are We?
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.
ARABS AND MOSLEMS WHO WISH TO POST THEIR VIEWS IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL CAN DO SO BY EMAILING US. WE WILL THEN POST THEM ANONYMOUSLY, IF THEY WISH. Please send all correspondence to: nonie@arabsforisrael.com
Nonie Darwish is a freelance writer, public speaker and founder of Arabs for Israel. The outspoken daughter of a "shahid" (martyr), Darwish attributes her father's death to "the Middle Eastern Islamic culture and the propaganda of hatred taught to children from birth". She states her mission is to "promote reconciliation, acceptance and understanding" between Israelis and Arabs.
Born in Cairo, Darwish moved to Gaza in the 1950s when her father, Lt. General Mustafa Hafez, was sent by Gamal Abdel Nasser to serve as commander of the Egyptian Army Intelligence in Gaza, which was then occupied by Egypt. Hafez founded the Fedayeen who launched raids across Israel's southern border, that between 1951 and 1956, killed some 400 Israelis. In July 1956 when Nonie was 8 years old, her father became the first targeted assassination carried out by the Israeli Defence Forces in response to Fedayeen's attacks, making him a martyr or "shahid". [1][2][3] During his speech announcing the nationalisation of the Suez Canal, Nasser vowed that all of Egypt would take revenge for Hafez's death. Nasser asked Nonie and her siblings, "Which one of you will avenge your father's death by killing Jews?" [4]
Darwish explains, "I always blamed Israel for my father's death, because that's what I was taught. I never looked at why Israel killed my father. They killed my father because the fedayeen were killing Israelis. They killed my father because when I was growing up, we had to recite poetry pledging jihad against Israel. We would have tears in our eyes, pledging that we wanted to die. I speak to people who think there was no terrorism against Israel before the '67 war. How can they deny it? My father died in it." [5]
After his death, her family moved to Cairo, where she attended Catholic high school and then the American University in Cairo, earning a BA in Sociology/Anthropology. She then worked as an editor and translator for the Middle East News Agency, until emigrating to the United States in 1978 with her husband, ultimately receiving United States citizenship. After arriving in the US, she began attending a non-denominational evangelical church. She no longer practices Islam because she feels that even mosques in the US have a radical, anti-American and an anti-peace message. About a year after the September 11, 2001 attacks, Darwish began writing columns critical of radical Islam.
Darwish's website Arabs for Israel describes itself as an organization of Arabs and Muslims who "respect and support the State of Israel", welcome a "peaceful and diverse Middle East", reject "suicide/homicide terrorism as a form of Jihad", and promote "constructive self-criticism and reform" in the Arab/Muslim world.
Palestinian native Kamal Nawash founder of Free Muslim Coalition Against Terrorism praises Darwish's work, but believes her decision to leave Islam dilutes her message. Nawash states, "She left the religion and now she's trying to reform it. We support her as much as possible, but the only people she can really speak to are the choir. Still, Darwish's voice is an important one no matter who listens to it. The Muslim community needs the controversy. For too long there has been a monopoly on who spoke for us." [6]
Book---
Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel, and the War on Terror -- awesome read!!
http://www.arabsforisrael.com/ -- Arabs and Muslims who Support the State of Israel and the Cause of Peace in the Middle East
Who Are We?
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.
ARABS AND MOSLEMS WHO WISH TO POST THEIR VIEWS IN SUPPORT OF ISRAEL CAN DO SO BY EMAILING US. WE WILL THEN POST THEM ANONYMOUSLY, IF THEY WISH. Please send all correspondence to: nonie@arabsforisrael.com
