All about Arabs for Israel

Nonie Darwish Muslims must stop terrorism, support Israel, and protect the moral fabric and goodness of Arab culture, said a former Muslim woman and daughter of a terrorist who spoke during last week's Sabbath services at Temple Beth Haverim in Agoura Hills.

Nonie Darwish, founder of Arabs for Israel, which supports Israel and Middle East peace, is the author of "Now They Call Me Infidel: Why I Renounced Jihad for America, Israel and the War on Terror."

Darwish, who now lives in Southern California, spoke of her journey from a childhood of lies taught to Muslim children about Jews and Christians.

"I speak out of empathy for Israel, a country that deserves our respect and not our hatred," Darwish said.

Darwish loves her "culture of origin," but believes it is time for Arab people to demand more of their leaders and "stop and think about how we can make the world a better place."

"There is nothing honorable about terrorism," said Darwish, who became a Christian. "Let's compete in the realm of innovation, not threats and violence. Arab children don't need jihad. They need jobs and hope."

As a child, Darwish was told to never take candy from a stranger because "it could be a Jew trying to poison you.

"We were taught all kinds of lies. When you do that to a child, hatred becomes easy and terrorism becomes acceptable," Darwish said.

It wasn't until the tragedy of 9/ 11 that Darwish began speaking out. Friends and relatives denied Arab involvement accusing Darwise of becoming "Americanized.

"It was a total denial of truth. I realized Israel had been a victim of terrorism for 58 years due to (those of) my heritage," Darwish said. "One thing Americans must understand- - there is nothing America or Israel has done to deserve terrorism."

Most Arab governments are dictatorships who oppress their people, she believes. Instead of providing jobs and schools, the governments blame Israel for their countries' problems. On arriving in the United States in 1978, Darwish met Jews and found them to be compassionate, tolerant and forgiving, messages she said she rarely heard among her own people.

"It became very clear to me who wanted peace and who wanted holy war," Darwish said.

Palestinians are pawns, Darwish added. Rather than building universities, factories and other employment sources, Arab countries use Palestinians to maintain war permanently with Israel to destroy it. According to Darwish, the policy of the 22-nation Arab League is to never grant citizenship to stateless Palestinians.

"The West Bank and Gaza are completely neglected. They are simply used as shooting grounds on Israel," Darwish said.

Her father was an Egyptian military officer assigned in the 1950s by Egypt's first president, Gamal Abdal Nasser, to launch guerillastyle attacks from Gaza into Israel, killing about 400 Israelis. In response, Israel sent commandos to the family's home but her father wasn't there; only Darwish, who was 8 years old, her four siblings, mother and two other women were in the house.

"The Israelis left us unharmed, even though my father was responsible for the killing of Israeli citizens," Darwish said. "We are told Israelis kill Arab children. This was the first time I realized something doesn't add up here."

After Darwish's father was assassinated in 1956, Nasser came to the family's home and asked which of the children would avenge their father's blood by killing Jews.

"I felt very uncomfortable by that question," Darwish said. "None of us children even answered. We just looked at each other."

Darwish's brother once collapsed from a stroke while in Cairo. He was taken to Hadassah Hospital in Israel rather than a Cairo hospital. Those with him felt he had a better chance of surviving in an Israeli hospital.

"Many Arabs get free treatment in Israeli hospitals but such stories of goodwill and extensions of friendship are never told," Darwish said.

Muslim music and prayers contain only words glorifying war, calling Jews infidels and enemies of God, according to Darwish. Hearing such words over and over affects people's outlook on life, she added.

"Muslim clergy have failed miserably because instead of being a source of love and comfort, they become a source of hate and rage," Darwish said.

Islamic radicals- some of whom don't practice Islam, according to Darwish- - dream of an Islamic totalitarian political system that promotes a lifestyle of force and forbids freedom of speech. There is much brutality by Muslims against Muslims but Arab media never expose those situations, Darwish said.

Darwish says there are other Muslims in America who speak out against terrorism and are pro-Israel. They are shunned by the organized Muslim community and cannot speak in mosques.

"It is not easy to question. It causes a lot of rejection in my culture," Darwish said.

Darwish receives hate mail and said her talk at Brown University in Rhode Island was canceled due to pressure by Muslim groups. She has since been reinvited.

Darwish believes change is beginning in the Middle East thanks to such technology as satellite dishes that make available other information sources besides those filtered by Arab governments.

"When I was young there was no debate," Darwish said. "Now technology is bringing western ideas to the Middle East."

For Judith Rosen of Westlake Village, hearing Darwish's words brought hope for the future.

"It probably won't happen in my lifetime, but if there are more people like her that message will be taken down from generation to generation," Rosen said.

For more information about Darwish and her cause, visit www.arabsforisrael.com.