Duke professor slams Ilhan Omar's 'all about the Benjamins' comment

‘We Muslims in America undeniably have an increasing anti-Semitism problem’: Duke Professor says Texas synagogue terror attack should inspires Muslims to confront growing Jew-hatred and slams Ilhan Omar’s ‘all about the Benjamins’ comment

• Duke University Professor Abdullah T. Antepli is calling on fellow Muslims to confront the ‘increasing anti-Semitism problem’ within their community
• His remarks came in response to Saturday’s Texas synagogue terror attack
• ‘We need to honestly discuss the increasing anti-Semitism within various Muslim communities,’ he wrote
• Antepli said North American Muslims need to have the ‘tough conversations’ about the issue and leaders who further the problem 
• He also took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar for over past anti-Semitic commentary, including a comment she made in 2019 suggesting that Israel’s allies in American politics were ‘all about the Benjamins’
• That was a reference to cash which was widely interpreted as an anti-Semitic trope, and which Omar later apologized for 

A Duke University professor has called on his fellow Muslims to confront the ‘increasing anti-Semitism problem’ within their community in wake of the Texas synagogue terror attack.

Abdullah T. Antepli, a professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at the Duke Divinity School, took to Twitter Sunday saying members of his faith have a ‘moral call for action for the soul of Islam and Muslim’ to address the hatred towards Jews.

He also took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar for over past anti-Semitic commentary, including a comment she made in 2019 suggesting that Israel’s allies in American politics were ‘all about the Benjamins’. That was a reference to cash which was widely interpreted as an anti-Semitic trope, and which Omar later apologized for. 

‘We North American Muslims need to have the morally required tough conversations about those“…polite Zionists are our enemies…”“…The Benjamins!!!…” voices and realities within our communities,’ Antepli wrote. 

‘We MUST! Without ands and buts, without any further denial, dismissal and or trivializing of the issues… we need to honestly discuss the increasing anti-Semitism within various Muslim communities.’

Abdullah T. Antepli, a professor of the Practice of Interfaith Relations at the Duke Divinity School, took to Twitter Sunday saying members of his faith have a ‘moral call for action for the soul of Islam and Muslim’ to address the hatred towards Jews

Antepli’s comments come just hours after an FBI Hostage Rescue Team on Saturday night stormed Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas – near Fort Worth – ending a 10-hour standoff with police by accused gunman Malik Faisal Akram, who disrupted a Sabbath service and took the rabbi and three other people hostage.

Akram, 44, of Blackburn, England – who was reportedly armed with ‘backpacks of explosives’ – had demanded the release of convicted Pakistani terrorist Aafia Siddiqu – known as Lady Al Qaeda – who police say was referred to as his sister. 

The four hostages were all released unharmed. After the incident, the Jewish community and President Joe Biden renewed calls to fight anti-Semitism. 

The FBI has sparked fury after claiming that they had yet to find evidence that the attack was anti-Semitic.  

‘Houston! We have a problem,’ Antepli tweeted. ‘Not going anywhere….quite the contrary getting worse.’ 

He argued that North American Muslims need to hold honest discussion about anti-Semitism without any ‘further denial, dismissal and or trivializing of the issues’.

Antepli took to Twitter Sunday, calling on the Muslim community to address Jew-hatred ‘honestly, morally and accurately’

The professor alleged the community has failed to address Jew-hatred ‘honestly, morally and accurately’.

‘I am really sick and tired of the over all defensiveness and tribal nature of our reaction to this alarming internal problem,’ he wrote. 

‘We are better than this! We can no longer pretend the problems of anti-Semitism within us does not exist. There are more urgent moral calls than “Let’s not bring shame to our already vulnerable communities..”’

The professor also called out American leaders – specifically Omar – who he suggests further the anti-Semitism problem.

‘The Benjamins,’ he wrote, quoting a February 2019 tweet from Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, that caused outrage among her party and other leaders.

Antepli’s comments come just hours after an FBI Hostage Rescue Team on Saturday night stormed Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas – near Fort Worth – ending a 10-hour standoff with police by accused gunman Malik Faisal Akram, who disrupted a Sabbath service and took the rabbi and three other people hostage

Akram, 44, of Blackburn, England – who was reportedly armed with ‘backpacks of explosives’ – had demanded the release of convicted Pakistani terrorist Aafia Siddiqu – known as Lady Al Qaeda – who police say was referred to as his sister

‘Anti-Semitism must be called out, confronted and condemned whenever it is encountered, without exception,’ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and her team wrote at the time.

‘We are and will always be strong supporters of Israel in Congress because we understand that our support is based on shared values and strategic interests. Legitimate criticism of Israel’s policies is protected by the values of free speech and democratic debate that the United States and Israel share. But Congresswoman Omar’s use of anti-Semitic tropes and prejudicial accusations about Israel’s supporters is deeply offensive. We condemn these remarks and we call upon Congresswoman Omar to immediately apologize for these hurtful comments.’ 

Omar apologized for for using old anti-Semitic tropes about Jews and money in her tweets but stuck to her guns in blasting the problems of lobbyists and their financial influence in politics. 

‘Anti-Semitism is real and I am grateful for Jewish allies and colleagues who are educating me on the painful history of anti-Semitic tropes,’ Omar said in a statement in 2019.

Antepli (left) also took aim at Rep. Ilhan Omar (right) for over past anti-Semitic commentary, including a comment she made in 2019 suggesting that Israel’s allies in American politics were ‘ all about the Benjamins’. That was a reference to cash which was widely interpreted as an anti-Semitic trope, and which Omar later apologized for 

‘The Benjamins,’ Antepli wrote Sunday, quoting a February 2019 tweet from Omar (above) that caused outrage among her party and other leaders

‘My intention is never to offend my constituents or Jewish Americans as a whole,’ she added. ‘We have to always be willing to step back and think through criticism, just as I expect people to hear me when others attack me for my identity. This is why I unequivocally apologize.’ 

‘At the same time, I reaffirm the problematic role lobbyists in our politics, whether it be AIPAC, the NRA or the fossil fuel industry. It’s gone on too long and we must be willing to address it,’ Omar added. She tweeted out her statement with the words: ‘Listening and learning, but standing strong.’ 

Sunday, responding to the Texas hostage situation, Omar tweeted: ‘Thank God for the freeing of the hostages. Blessings to the members of Beth-Israel synagogue and the entire community.’

She was just one of several lawmakers issuing their support for the synagogue and members of the Jewish faith. 

On Sunday, Omar responded to the Texas hostage situation, sending ‘blessings to the members of Beth-Israel synagogue and the entire community’

‘Yesterday, an act of terrorism horrified the nation, as worshippers at Congregation Beth Israel in Texas were taken hostage during a Shabbat service. In the wake of this antisemitic attack, we stand with the Jewish communities in Colleyville, across our nation and around the world,’ Pelosi echoed.

‘Antisemitism and other forms of hateful violence have been on the rise in recent years. This extremism has injected fear into communities and stolen too many lives. Hatred and violence have no place in America — and we must never fail to confront and combat these dark forces.’

She continued: ‘Congress remains ironclad in our commitment to fighting the scourge of antisemitism here at home and around the world. We cannot and will not rest until all of our children, regardless of their faith, can reach for their dreams in a world at peace.’ 

During a visit to a Philadelphia food bank, President Joe Biden Sunday described Akram’s actions as an ‘act of terror,’ adding that there was not yet sufficient information as to why the gunman had specifically targeted a synagogue. 

‘Allegedly – I don’t have all the facts, nor does the attorney general – but allegedly the assertion was he got the weapons on the street,’ the president explained.

US President Joe Biden described Akram’s actions as an ‘act of terror’ during a visit to a Philadelphia food bank on Sunday

A SWAT team was set up by a nearby middle school as the hostage situation dragged on for more than ten hours

‘He purchased them when he landed and it turns out there apparently were no bombs that we know of. … Apparently he spent the first night in a homeless shelter. I don’t have all the details yet so I’m reluctant to go into much more detail.’  

‘I don’t think there is sufficient information to know about why he targeted that synagogue, why he insisted on the release of someone who’s been in prison for over 10 years, why he was engaged, why he was using anti-Semitic and anti-Israel comments,’ Biden told reporters.  

Akram was shot dead by the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team after holding four hostages for more than 10 hours at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on Saturday. 

Lead FBI special agent Matthew DeSarno confirmed Akram was a British citizen and that ‘at this time there is no indication that other individuals are involved’ in a statement released to the media on Sunday afternoon.

DeSarno also claimed Akram was focused on an issue not directly connected to the Jewish community and there was no immediate indication that the man had was part of any broader plan, but noted the agency’s investigation ‘will have global reach.’ 

‘It is very disturbing to hear from the FBI they do not believe the hostage taker’s demands had anything to do with the Jewish faith,’ wrote South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham. 

The FBI Shooting Incident Review Team plans to conduct a ‘thorough, factual and objective investigation’ of the shooting.

Counter Terror police also confirmed to MailOnline they would continue to work with ‘US authorities and colleagues in the FBI’ over the coming days as the investigation into Akram’s actions continues. 

Akram was shot dead by the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team after holding four hostages for more than 10 hours at Congregation Beth Israel synagogue in Colleyville, Texas on Saturday 

The FBI said Akram was focused on an issue not directly connected to the Jewish community and there was no immediate indication that the man had was part of any broader plan (Pictured: Officials negotiating  during the hostage situation)

The alleged gunman’s ‘devastated’ brother Gulbar Akram shared a message on social media in which he revealed he had been working with the FBI and ‘liaising’ with his sibling throughout the stand-off. He also apologized and blamed ‘mental health issues’ for Malik’s actions.

Gulbar wrote online: ‘It is with great great sadness I will confirm my brother Faisal passed away in Texas, USA this morning. We are absolutely devastated as a family. We can’t say much now as their is an ongoing FBI investigation.

‘We would like to say that we as a family do not condone any of his actions and would like to sincerely apologize wholeheartedly to all the victims involved in the unfortunate incident.

‘Sitting in the incident room all last night at Greenbank until the early hours liaising with Faisal, the negotiators, FBI etc. And although my brother was suffering from mental health issues we were confident that he would not harm the hostages.

‘There was nothing we could have said to him or done that would have convinced him to surrender. 

‘Obviously our priority will be to get him back to the UK for his Funeral prayers although we have been warned it could take weeks.

‘We would also like to add that any attack on any human being be it a Jew, Christian or Muslim etc is wrong and should always be condemned. It is absolutely inexcusable for a Muslim to attack a Jew or for any Jew to attack a Muslim, Christian, Hindu vice versa etc.’    

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