Anti-Israel Imam Gives House Invocation

A Muslim imam, chosen by Democrats to give the opening invocation for Congress this week, has a record of anti-Israel rhetoric, among other things accusing Israel of genocide and apartheid.

Imam Omar Suleiman, 33, founder and president of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and a professor of Islamic studies at Southern Methodist University, was invited to give the blessing by Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas.

Suleiman took Rep. Ilhan Omar side in the recent controversies over her anti-Semitic comments, even though Omar apologized.

“She never accused American Jews of double loyalty or used any anti-Semitic words. She spoke to AIPAC’s crazy influence in DC….and how politicians are expected to be uncritical of our relationship with Israel even as it continues to expand its occupation and pass more apartheid laws,” Suleiman said on Twitter in March.

But there was no sign of his hatred of Israel in his remarks on the House floor on Thursday:

“We pray for peace, not war. Love, not hate. Benevolence, not greed. Unity, not division. And we commit ourselves to not betraying our prayers with actions that contradict them,” Suleiman intoned.

His message was welcomed by Omar, who tweeted: “Love is the way! Ramadan Kareem thank you for sharing this beautiful message with all of us today.”

Linda Sarsour, another fan, wrote: “A beautiful, moving, and timely prayer by Imam Omar Suleiman on the House floor today at the U.S. Capitol.”

Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), who is Jewish, said in a statement that inviting Suleiman to deliver the opening prayer was a “terribly bad call.”

Rep. Johnson did not respond to the Washington Examiner when asked for comment.