Useful idiot Daniel Sokatch from the “Progressive Jewish Alliance” defends Maher Hathout: Looking for Extremism in the Wrong Places.

Although both men have made comments with which I strongly disagree, criticizing Israel is not the same as supporting that nation’s destruction, nor should it be equated with supporting terrorism. Hathout and Al-Marayati have consistently opposed and condemned terrorism, and both are on the record as supporting Israel’s right to exist. MPAC’s board of directors has passed a resolution supporting a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and MPAC has dedicated itself to improving relations between L.A. Muslims and Jews.

However much many in the Jewish community may disagree with Hathout’s or Al-Marayati’s positions on Israel, neither man — and certainly not MPAC — can be described as extremist. Israel is not even the main focus of MPAC’s work. Far from it.

MPAC exists to protect the civil rights of Muslim Americans and to facilitate their integration into American society. It is a voice of an emerging moderate American Islamic identity, one that sees neither Jews nor Israel as an enemy to be vanquished.

It is just the kind of organization that those worried about the threat of Islamic extremism should seek to work with, not discredit.

Some opposing Hathout and Al-Marayati may genuinely think these two leaders are undeserving of the awards. But others see the two as leaders of an organization that poses an extremist danger to Israel and the U.S. and thus must be excluded from civic discourse.

This is a dangerous delusion. Yes, MPAC is often critical of Israel, and yes, many of us in the Jewish community have reason to disagree with it. But that does not make MPAC the enemy. What kind of message will discrediting MPAC and its leaders — seen as moderates in the Muslim community — send to millions of American Muslims about their place in our society? If MPAC’s moderate agenda is thwarted, what do we think will take its place?

Those in the Jewish community who desire MPAC’s disappearance should be careful what they wish for.

This is the very definition of dhimmitude—defending organizations and people who want you dead, out of fear that the alternative may be worse.

The video of Hathout’s ugly speech in Washington DC is here: Mike Farrell Shills for Maher Hathout.

The other Islamist being defended by Mr. Sokatch, Salam Al-Marayati, is notorious for telling radio station KCRW within hours of the September 11 mass murder:

“If we’re going to look at suspects we should look to the groups that benefit the most from these kinds of incidents, and I think we should put the state of Israel on the suspect list because I think this diverts attention from what’s happening in the Palestinian territories so that they can go on with their aggression and occupation and apartheid policies.”

This isn’t simply “critical of Israel.” It’s demented, poisonous hate speech.

These people are not moderates in any sense of the word, but they’ve obviously pulled the wool over the eyes of the “progressives.”