New York, NY – A Hamas leader says Muslims “have to build” a mosque near ground zero.
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Mahmoud al-Zahar said Muslims “have to build everywhere” so that followers can pray, just like Christians and Jews build their places of worship.
Al-Zahar spoke Sunday on “Aaron Klein Investigative Radio” on WABC-AM. He is a co-founder of Hamas and its chief on the Gaza Strip.
Sen. Chuck Schumer says Al-Zahar’s comments don’t carry any weight because Hamas is a terrorist organization. Schumer hasn’t taken a stand on the mosque.
Rep. Peter King, who opposes the mosque, says he won’t respond to Hamas.
The mosque is a project of the Cordoba Initiative, an advocacy group that promotes improved relations between Islam and the West. It didn’t respond to Al-Zahar’s comments.
Obama and Hamas are of the same opinion. Oh G-D almighty to what have we come to.
This Aaron Klein has an amassing show. He confronts high leaders of terrorists on air.
So Hamas and Obama are on the same page.
Accept the things you cannot change, and change the things you can. AMERICA you VOTED for CHANGE ! Guess you got a little more than YOU bargained for ? Must have been alot of “DUMB” buttons on thoes voting machine’s ! Next time do your homework …that is if there is an AMERICA by then.
I think the statement by hamas is the best reason NOT to allow it to be built there. Wow, Hamas, Obama, Bloomberg and Schumer are all in agreement. What else do you need to know people?
Wake up, our President celebrated Rahmadan the other day, sent the Iman on an all expense paid trip to his homeland and came out in favor of the mosque.
He is the first POTUS that has not joined a church while in office. Why?
BECAUSE HE IS A ILLEGAL ALIEN MUSLIM.
I think obama should move 2 gazza
So if we get sharia law, can I stone my ex-wife for adultry?
don’t forget bloomberg
hamas wants to build a huge mosque in nyc, nr the wtc???hello, build it in saudi arabia.,egypt, iran, iraq, the audacity, nerve, (chutzpah) is mind boggling….and i wish i can slap bloomberg….lemme call his mother….
To: 1 & 3
Come on!
The same constitution that gives us the right to build synagogues, including in places where we are not wanted, gives them the right to build mosques.
No one says we have to like it. WE may not feel it is in good taste.
Just suck it up, unless you want the ovens to start firing up again.
When they demolish the White House and build a mosque in its place, it will be too late.
I think we need to get a grip. So Hamas has made a self-promoting statement capitalizing on the debate over the center. Fact is that if it came from any other group it would be a yawn of no importance. It’s hardly a radical idea that people should build places of worship in as many places as possible. Whoopi! So, what? The US has a legal requirement for religious tolerance. Synagogues, Churches and yes, even Mosques, are protected by the same laws. When this city was founded Synagogues and Jews were banned from New York. Connecticut had the “gentleman’s” agreements until very recently. Why would we wish to further such stupidity? The group supporting the Mosque would be executed by Hamas if they were in their hands. They are in complete violation of the idiot Hamas Charter. They talk to Jews and others with respect. They do not call for the ending of Israel, instead recognize her right to exist.
I didn’t vote for Obama. I don’t particularly like him. But every president is required by oath to uphold the constitution and that includes the clauses and case law on Freedom of Religion. I have no problem arguing on his interpretation concerning other aspects of his policies, but in terms of the right for a group to put their place of worship at a location that would be open to any other religious group, in as equal a way as any other religious group, he is absolutely correct. The hysteria and misrepresentation is as great a form of lashon hara as any other.
That said, the Cordoba Initiative did a remarkably poor job of explaining themselves prior to their action. They painted a target in the middle of their foreheads. It would be nice to think that they would reconsider for the concept of peace in the community, but how many of ours defy the same concept and community sensibilities ? (hint: just take a look at the articles on previous pages)
To #11 You have a heart of Stone!!
You are 100% right! As soon as they build a church and a temple in Saudi Arabia
Bloomy and Obama point to the Constitution when it fits their twisted agenda, otherwise they say the constitution is Not relevant. They are two sick birds.
It is so unbelievable how pathetically ignorant so many here are. They blame Obama for siding with the Constitution on religious freedom. I love it! Obama was clear that he didn’t support the mosque, he just supported their right to build it, which is CONSTITUTIONALLY what he should say!
Now, those of you “activists” who want to change the Constitution to declare religious freedom for everyone who is not a Muslim, well then go ahead and try.
Just wait until some antisemitic group blocks a shul from opening by invoking “eminent domain”. They’ll claim the town needs the land for a parking lot or something. They will point to this mosque and proudly proclaim that religious institutions are not exempt anymore (as they have been treated over the years).
I get the irrational, emotional “feelings” about this mosque. However, the law is the law. You either respect it (whether you like it or not), or you don’t. If you don’t, then feel free to move to Venezuela where nobody cares about respecting the law.
It’s interesting that Mr. Schumer hasn’t taken a stand on the mosque issue. He seems to be very vocal and spouting opinions on many other issues but on an issue that is of importance to the state that he represents, he hasn’t taken a stand. Come on Mr. Schumer, get some backbone , tell us what you think. Is there anyone else out there who does not have an opinion on this issue? Mr. Schumer , you may be the only person around who doesn’t have an opinion. Stand up, speak loud and clear, and tell us how you support the building of the mosque like the leader of your party just did. Your silence on the issue is deafening.
Excellent comment #11 !!
#13 Freedom is the AMERICAN way…you don’t like you know where you can go. Just like I would STRONGLY have an issue with people objecting a synagogue being built in a community, I will do so with people who have an issue with a Mosque being built in a community. You should know better than to be displaying that kind of attitude..Once upon a time the Jewish community had their rights severely infringed upon.
Al Zahar speaks for the political wing of Hamas (he is not considered a “terrorist”) and his views are taken quite seriously by the international community and media. He correctly notes that muslims in the U.S. have the same rights to build their mosques as jews and christians have to their houses of worship. If they don’t get to build their mosque here, forget about any jewish claimes to religous intolerance among the arab countries.
From # 11
To: # 13 Your comment isn’t even internally self-consistent.
To: # 15 I know people who’ve died there, and others who have children who died there. That location isn’t even visible from ground zero. The Tea Party is filled with angry individuals who know how to create wedge issues. And most of them aren’t too friendly to Jews.
To: # 16 Thank G_D that I was not born in and do not live in intolerant Saudi Arabia and under Saria law. I don’t think we should aspire to or use as our measure of justice and humanity the lowest possible common denominator.