SAMANTHA MONK: Shikaki sensation is a right-wing witch hunt
by Samantha Monk
Forum | 2/7/06
Posted online at 1:19 AM EST on 2/7/06
In fact, the story the media is feeding us doesn't make much sense when examined closely. Aside from his familial ties to PIJ-which was responsible for a suicide bombing in April 1995 which killed, among others, Alisa Flatow '96-the most serious evidence against Shakiki is that he was recorded on tape discussing a transfer of funds to Sami al-Arian, who was tried for terrorism. As Prof. Natana DeLong-Bas (NEJS) told me, "The assertion that any connection with Sami al-Arian makes a person a terrorist is very disturbing, given that Sami was acquitted of the terrorist charges against him. … The outcome of the trial indicated that he was, in fact, raising money for charity."
When President Clinton declared PIJ to be a terrorist organization in 1995, all evidence of Shikaki's association with the group came to an abrupt end, Frontpagemag.com reports.
But the story can't end there. Thus the author of "Brandeis Hires a Jihadist" asks:
"Did Shikaki approve of [Flatow's] murder? What does Shikaki think of Palestinian Islamic Jihad now? Does he think it is a legitimate group?"
Conspiracy theories are impossible to disprove. But, according to those who know him, the idea that Shikaki, who has devoted so much of his life to the pursuit of peace, could at any time have approved of something as abominable as murder is preposterous.
But Robert Spencer, the author of "Brandeis Appoints a Jihadist," is not concerned with answers. So he throws one more question out there:
"Did anyone at the Crown Center dare to ask him such questions during the interview process?"
The answer is no. DeLong-Bas told me, "It seems that any Palestinian who talks about the need to help the Palestinian people, calls for their right to independence, or demands justice ends up being labeled as a terrorist." Shikaki's commitment to peace is indubitable to those who have spoken to him and have read his work. Although it might be standard procedure to ask nationalistic Palestinians whether they support violence, in this case Shikaki's work spoke for itself.
When President Clinton declared PIJ to be a terrorist organization in 1995, all evidence of Shikaki's association with the group came to an abrupt end, Frontpagemag.com reports.
But the story can't end there. Thus the author of "Brandeis Hires a Jihadist" asks:
"Did Shikaki approve of [Flatow's] murder? What does Shikaki think of Palestinian Islamic Jihad now? Does he think it is a legitimate group?"
Conspiracy theories are impossible to disprove. But, according to those who know him, the idea that Shikaki, who has devoted so much of his life to the pursuit of peace, could at any time have approved of something as abominable as murder is preposterous.
But Robert Spencer, the author of "Brandeis Appoints a Jihadist," is not concerned with answers. So he throws one more question out there:
"Did anyone at the Crown Center dare to ask him such questions during the interview process?"
The answer is no. DeLong-Bas told me, "It seems that any Palestinian who talks about the need to help the Palestinian people, calls for their right to independence, or demands justice ends up being labeled as a terrorist." Shikaki's commitment to peace is indubitable to those who have spoken to him and have read his work. Although it might be standard procedure to ask nationalistic Palestinians whether they support violence, in this case Shikaki's work spoke for itself.
