COHEN ARKOFSKY

Bleak Outlook

Moderate imam gives his perspective
on Israel, Iran and Hamas.

Muslims for a long while kept coming
to my home or other places to have
discussions:' he said.
Hamas also possesses a view of
ran and Hamas look at the
Israel
similar to Iran's — a destructive
East
not
situation in the Middle
theology,
he said.
through political or nationalistic
"Israel
will
exist and will continue
lenses, but through a "virulent muta-
to
exist
until
Islam
obliterates it," he
tion" of fundamental Islam. That is the
translated
from
the
Hamas charter as
opinion of Dr. Khaleel Mohammed,
an
example.
-
professor of religion at San Diego State
He also explained that Hamas sees
University's Center for Islamic and
itself as a theological entity spurred
Arabic Studies. He spoke March 30 at
on by God — an Islamic
Congregation B'nai Moshe in
charity consecrated for
West Bloomfield.
future Muslim genera-
"Since the Iranian revo-
tions.
lution, since the Ayatollah
E
And what can Israel
Khomeni took over, from
2
do?
that time onwards, eve _ ry
Israel finds itself in
single outlook in Iran has
a tenuous position, he
been couched in theocratic
said. If Israel deals with
terms:' Mohammed told a
Hamas, Hamas claims
crowd of 200. "The govern-
Dr. Mo hammed
victory in the name of
ment that formerly practiced
terrorism. If Israel disrupts Hamas,
some form of religious tolerance has
Hamas goes to Iran for support and a
become increasingly harsh towards
new wave of terror starts, he said.
non-Muslims."
Although not willing to play the role
The event was part of B'nai B'rith's
of seer, Mohammed said that without
Enlighten America program in
a negotiating partner, Israel must wait
cooperation with B'nai Moshe and
and observe. But the Muslims in the
the Jewish Community Council of
region are waiting, too.
Metropolitan Detroit.
"The Crusaders were there for 200
The election of unpopular, ultra-
years and, as far as Islamic history
religious Iranian President Mahmoud
is concerned, they were forced to
Ahmadinejad was gained through
"rigged elections" that caused many . leave he said. "Immediately after the
Crusaders left, Baghdad fell in 1258
Iranian citizens to stay away from the
to the Mongols, and within a century
polls, said Mohammed..
the Mongols left. From 1948 to now, 58
He explained the Iranian people
years — big deal:' he said. "This is an
stand against the president, not seen
as a good person, yet one who controls uphill battle."
Reaction to the talk was gloomy. "I
everything and sees the world through
don't think we have any choice but to
a religious — and anti-Semitic
make -sure we [Israel] still have the
— perspective.
bola," said Ron Finegood of Sylvan
For example, when the Danish car-
toon controversy erupted in December Lake. "We're between a rock and a
hard place."
2005, Ahmadinejad did not condemn
"He gave a very bad prognosis for the
the government of Denmark but
prospects for peace between Israel and
spoke of the Jews and the Holocaust,
the Palestinians because the charter
Mohammed said.
of Hamas is so uncompromisine said
For centuries, enmity existed
Isaac Barr of Southfield. "I hope that,
between the Persians and the Arabs,
nevertheless, and at a certain point in
but Iran has formed a loose alliance
with the Shias in Iraq and Afghanistan time, there will be negotiation:"
Jeremy Salinger of Southfield said,
because of the U.S. war on terror and
"The real question is not what is in
of their hatred of Israel, he said.
the past but what is the possibility in
Mohammed's views of radical
the future, and how do jou go about
Islam are not popular in the mosque
making sure that the things you hope
he attends in San Diego, so he's no
longer allowed to speak there, "but the for can come about." ❑

Harry Kirsbaum
Staff Writer

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April 6 • 2006

11 0 1 • 6 0

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