In Interview With Muslim Brotherhood TV Channel, Dr. Osama Abuirshaid, Executive Director Of American Muslims For Palestine Who Appears Frequently With Anti-Israel Democrats Including Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib And Ilhan Omar, States: 'Parasite' Israel 'Sucks The Blood Of America'; 'The More The Americans Know About Israel, The Less They Like It'

In a September 22, 2021 interview, Dr. Osama Abuirshaid, who is the executive director of American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) and who appears with members of the anti-Israel Democratic "Squad" on Capitol Hill, including Congresswomen Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, commented on the U.S. House of Representatives vote on $1 billion in new funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, which passed 420-9 the following day, September 23.

Stating that "Israel is a parasite that lives off the American body" and "sucks the blood of America," Abuirshaid stressed: "We are witnessing the closing of the ranks, and an emphasis on the force that supports Palestine within the Democratic party... Many American Jews are more supportive of Palestine." He said that while his statements are "considered to be antisemitic," accusations of antisemitism "are no longer influential, because they are illogical" and that "criticizing Israel is no longer tantamount to political suicide." He added: "The more the Americans know about Israel, the less they like it."

Among Abuirshaid's appearances with members of the Squad are his participation with Congresswomen Tlaib and Omar in a "Virtual Gala" session on Day 2 of the American Muslims for Palestine's annual convention last year; the session was titled "Against All Odds: Palestine Prevails." [1] Another recent example is Tlaib's appearance as a guest of honor at an AMP event in St. Louis, where she spoke alongside Abuirshaid.[2]

"Virtual Gala – Against All Odds: Palestine Prevails" session at American Muslims for Palestine's annual convention

MEMRI has translated and released a number of other clips of Dr. Abuirshaid, including MEMRI TV Clips Nos.  8580, on Al-Hiwar TV, in which he explained and expressed support for Hamas's deception in its public statements; 5558, at an MAS-ICNA convention, in which he said that Israel was responsible for the Syria crisis and the coup in Egypt, and 5487, on Al-Jazeera, in which he said that MEMRI is used to infiltrate "American consciousness." He has also spoken out in support of Hamas.[3]  

Below is the transcript of his September 22 interview, which aired on Yarmouk TV (Muslim Brotherhood-Jordan)

To view this clip on MEMRI TV, click here or below:

"We Are Witnessing The Closing Of The Ranks, And An Emphasis On The Force That Supports Palestine Within The Democratic Party... Many American Jews Are More Supportive Of Palestine"

Dr. Osama Abuirshaid: "We are witnessing the closing of the ranks, and an emphasis on the force that supports Palestine within the Democratic party. The grassroots are more supportive of Palestine. The majority of the Democratic base is more supportive of Palestine than the Republicans are. Many American Jews are more supportive of Palestine. Their concept of support obviously differs from the Eastern, or Arab, notions here.

"It is not that they want to go back to the source of the problem, and view Palestine from the River to the Sea as occupied land, but they believe that the Palestinians deserve to live." [...]

"Today, Israel represents the ugly face of racial segregation, of apartheid, especially when we know that the tactics used by the American police... It is not the federal police that pounce on people and killed [George] Floyd and others. These tactics were taught by the IDF and Israeli security experts.

"They say to them: 'We are experts in dealing with civilian population and civilian intifadas. We will teach you how to deal with them.'

[...]

"At the end of the day, these one billion dollars [for the Iron Dome] will be passed in Congress."

Journalist: "How come?"

Dr. Osama Abuirshaid: "They will be passed by the votes of the Republicans." [...]

"Criticizing Israel Is No Longer Tantamount To Political Suicide"; It Is "A Parasite Living Off The American Body";

"Israel has become a partisan issue. There is no longer a political consensus about Israel. Criticizing Israel is no longer tantamount to political suicide." [...]

"What I Am Saying Is Considered To Be Antisemitic" But Accusations Of Antisemitism "Are No Longer Influential"; Israel "Sucks The Blood Of America"; "The More The Americans Know About Israel The Less They Like It"

"Israel today is a case of a parasite living off the American body. America is going through an economic crisis. America is suffering strategically. It is suffering in many places in the world. It is withdrawing from many places in the world – from Afghanistan, from the Middle East, from other places – because it wants to focus its capabilities on the rising Chinese dragon."

"Nevertheless, Israel pulls America back. It sucks the blood of America and scatters its attention. These are facts. What I am saying is considered to be antisemitic, and I will be accused of [antisemitism], but these accusations are no longer influential, because they are illogical. There is no electricity or clean water in some American cities, but we do have $1 billion to give to Israel – on top of the $3.8 billion we give to Israel every year – so that it can develop the so-called Iron Dome, and continue killing the Palestinian people with American missiles.

[...]

"The more the Americans know about Israel the less they like it."