Education Secretary Miguel Cardona recently held a meeting with an anti-Israel activist who has expressed support for Hamas and Hezbollah, and advocated for violence against Israel.
Cardona met with 13 activists, including Lina Assi, the advocacy manager of Palestine Legal, to address the concerning rise of hate and threats of violence in schools and college campuses following Hamas’s attack on Israel. Assi has referred to Iran and its terrorist proxy, Hezbollah, as “crucial and important” in their resistance against imperialism in the Middle East. As a student activist, she even led a crowd in chanting “Viva, viva Intifada,” which calls for a violent uprising against the Jewish state.
Assi’s organization represents Students for Justice in Palestine, an anti-Israel student group that projected the pro-Hamas statement “Glory to our martyrs” on buildings at George Washington University. Palestine Legal is also representing the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter at the University of Florida, which was expelled from campus for expressing solidarity with Hamas in its “Day of Resistance Toolkit.”
This meeting with Cardona is just one example of the Biden administration recruiting individuals sympathetic to terrorists for their anti-terrorism initiatives. The White House previously enlisted the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), an organization that allegedly funded Hamas front groups in the past and blamed Israel for the recent attack. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security has granted millions of dollars to mosques that have promoted anti-Semitic views and condoned Hamas’s attack on Israel.
Cardona’s meeting with Assi took place shortly after she urged the Department of Education to address the surge in anti-Palestinian and Islamophobic racism on campuses across the country. In a letter to the department, Assi claimed that “Israel blatantly conducts a genocide in Palestine.”
Cardona also met with officials from other groups, such as Emgage, the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and Arab American Institute, all of which have blamed Israel for provoking the Hamas attack. Furthermore, an official from the Muslim Students Association, who attended the meeting, has made controversial statements suggesting Israel’s involvement in Jeffrey Epstein’s pedophilia ring.
In 2017, Assi faced an investigation at McMaster University in Canada after her tweets advocating violence against Israel came to light. She even shared a Hamas parliamentarian’s sermon calling Israel “the vilest and most despicable nation in history.”
Assi has consistently expressed support for Hezbollah and Iran’s resistance against imperialism in the region. She commended their role and acknowledged their material support, military training, and safe havens for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a terrorist group responsible for suicide bombings and airplane hijackings in the past.
In a protest in Toronto in 2019, Assi led demonstrators in chanting ”Viva, viva Intifada,” emphasizing the Palestinians’ right to resist by any means necessary. She has also promoted a “resistance arts” scholarship in honor of Ghassan Kanafani, a leader of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.
It remains unclear whether the Department of Education was aware of Assi’s remarks prior to hosting her, and both the agency and Palestine Legal have not responded to requests for comment.
How does Lina Assi’s support for Hamas and Hezbollah, designated terrorist organizations, impact her eligibility for any position of authority or influence within our government?
Dollars to organizations with ties to terrorism, including the Islamic Relief Agency, which was found guilty of funding terrorist organizations.
It is deeply troubling that individuals with such radical and extremist views are being given a platform and influence within our government. Lina Assi’s support for Hamas and Hezbollah, both designated terrorist organizations by the United States, should disqualify her from any position of authority or influence.
By associating with individuals and organizations that promote violence and terrorism, the Biden administration is sending a dangerous message to the American people and the international community. It undermines the efforts of countries around the world that are working tirelessly to combat terrorism and promote peace.
Furthermore, this meeting raises serious concerns about the Biden administration’s stance on Israel. Cardona’s decision to meet with someone who openly advocates for violence against Israel and supports organizations responsible for attacks on innocent civilians is deeply troubling. It sends a message that the United States is not committed to standing with its closest ally in the Middle East.
Israel is a democratic nation that shares our values and has been a steadfast ally in the fight against terrorism. It is crucial that the United States continues to support and stand by Israel in the face of ongoing threats and attacks. The meeting with Lina Assi and other anti-Israel activists only serves to undermine this important alliance.
The Biden administration must reconsider its associations and take a firm stance against individuals and organizations that support terrorism. By doing so, they can send a clear message that the United States is committed to combating terrorism and standing with its allies.
In conclusion, the meeting between Education Secretary Miguel Cardona and Lina Assi, an anti-Israel activist who supports Hamas and Hezbollah, is deeply concerning. It highlights the Biden administration’s disturbing associations with individuals and organizations that promote violence and terrorism. The United States must take a strong stand against terrorism and reaffirm its commitment to its closest ally, Israel.
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