The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, has long served as PR flacks for All Things Islam, rather than supporters for America. Yet it was still a shock when Nihad Awad, CAIR’s executive director, celebrated the October 7 massacre of Israelis by Hamas.

Speaking in late November at a conference of American Muslims for Palestine, Awad gave these remarks:

The people of Gaza only decided to break the siege, the walls of the concentration camp, on October 7. And yes, I was happy to see people breaking the siege and throwing down the shackles of their own land and walk free into their land, which they were not allowed to walk in. And, yes, the people of Gaza have the right to self-defense, have the right to defend themselves. And, yes, Israel, as an occupying power, does not have that right to self-defense.

Apparently Hamas terrorists were just “some people who did something,” to quote Ilhan Omar when she recklessly described the 9/11 attacks as such.

Awad’s remarks were a bridge too far, even for the Biden administration, as in early December the White House cut ties with CAIR. The group had been working with the administration to craft a national antisemitism strategy, believe it or not. But after Awad’s speech even the progressive White House thought that maybe it was time to give CAIR the heave-ho. Said WH deputy press secretary Andrew Bates:

We condemn these shocking, antisemitic statements in the strongest terms. The horrific, brutal terrorist attacks committed by Hamas on October 7th were, as President Biden said, ‘abhorrent’ and represent ‘unadulterated evil.’

Did CAIR walk back their executive director’s remarks? Nope. In fact, Awad himself stood by his comments. Actually, he said, he was … wait for it … taken out of context. Why, he was not referring to the October 7 massacre at all, as he told National Review. 

What I actually said while discussing international law: Ukrainians, Palestinians and other occupied people have the right to defend themselves and escape occupation by just and legal means, but targeting civilians is never an acceptable means of doing so, which is why I have again and again condemned the violence against Israeli civilians on Oct. 7th and past Hamas attacks on Israeli civilians, including suicide bombings, all the way back to the 1990s—just as I have condemned the decades of violence against Palestinian civilians.

Right. Gazalighting, anyone?

However, National Review writer Ari Blaff didn’t fall for Awad’s Gazalighting, citing examples of how CAIR has never condemned Hamas for anything:

The statements Awad cited as evidence of CAIR’s supposed evenhanded condemnation of Israeli and Palestinian human-rights violations do not include explicit criticisms of Hamas terrorism and are instead mostly dedicated to scolding Israel.

Democrats Who Supported CAIR Scurry for Cover

After Awad made his inflammatory pro-Hamas remarks, several prominent Democrats scrambled to explain their support for CAIR. Others remained silent, waiting for the comments to blow over.

For example, Sen. Sherrod Brown (OH) said in a statement:

I condemn in the strongest possible terms these antisemitic statements – and anyone who tries to make excuses for Hamas’ murder of innocent civilians.

Plus Sen. Bob Casey (PA), who had previously praised a local CAIR chapter for its “diversity and equality efforts,” decided that just maybe the group is toxic:

I unequivocally condemn the antisemitic and hateful comments made by CAIR’s leadership and any comments that celebrate the despicable acts of Hamas terrorists.

Meanwhile, CAIR itself decided to do a solid for their Democrat supporters and scrubbed their praise from its website. So all the endorsements from these lawmakers vanished and were replaced with a 404 error message.

Gavin Newsom Meets with Them Anyway

Maybe CA Gov. Gavin Newsom didn’t get the memo. Or perhaps he’s actually bulletproof to any criticism from Jewish groups. Because on Thursday, the Cali gov met with the state’s CAIR chapter.

Afterwards, Hussam Alyoush, the group’s head, expressed his pleasure at meeting with Newsom, stating that the governor provided a “platform to request the administration be proactive in ensuring the dignity of Palestinians.” Not only that, but he hopes that Newsom will push for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza, too:

In his tenure, Governor Newsom has paved the path as a champion for civil rights, and we urge him to continue to use his voice as the leader of Californians who overwhelmingly demand a ceasefire.

But we all know what a “permanent ceasefire” will mean for Israel, don’t we? It would mean that Hamas would attack again, and again, and again. Massacres would continue in more brutal, unprovoked attacks.

Oh, wait. Unprovoked attacks? What unprovoked attacks? said Alyoush:

If I hear that term again, I’ll go crazy. Unprovoked in what dictionary?

But not only is Gavin Newsom happy to meet with CAIR, he loves to give them money, too. In fact, in 2023 he gave $40 million of taxpayer money to mosques in which imams preach antisemitism and call for attacks against Israel. One of them is the Islamic Center of San Diego, where Imam Taha Hassane echoed Nihad Awad just two weeks after the massacre:

We cannot accuse somebody who is fighting for his life to be a terrorist. The terrorist is the one who started the occupation, not the one who is defending himself. 

Nice company that Gavin Newsom engages. So while his fellow Democrats, and even the White House, are dashing to publicly separate themselves from CAIR, Newsom welcomes terror apologists with open arms.

Consider, too, that while Joe Biden continues to falter on the public stage, Newsom has been named as a likely replacement for the Democrat presidential nomination later this year. American Jews in particular should take notice.

Featured image: “Gavin Newsom” by Thomas Hawk is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.