Women’s March co-president Tamika Mallory wouldn’t directly say if Israel has a right to exist when pressed on the matter on PBS’ “Firing Line.”
Mallory told program host Margaret Hoover that “the Palestinians are native to the land” because they’ve been there “for a very long time.” When Hoover asked if Mallory thought that Jews were native to the land, she replied, “I understand the history that, you know, that there are people who have a number of, sort of ideologies around why the Jewish people feel this should be their land.”
“I’m not Jewish, so for me to speak to that is not fair,” Mallory said.
Hoover pointed out that Mallory isn’t Palestinian either, prompting Mallory to reply, “I’m speaking of the people we know are being brutally oppressed in this moment.”
Hoover then asked Mallory if she thinks Israel has a right to exist.
“I have said many times that everyone has a right to exist,” Mallory said. “I feel everyone has a right to exist. I just don’t feel that anyone has a right to exist at the disposal of another group.”
“In your view, does that include Israelis in Israel?” Hoover asked.
“I believe that all people have a right to exist, and that Palestinians are also suffering with a great crisis,” Mallory replied. “And there are other Jewish scholars who will sit here and say the same.”
Mallory then said, “I’m done talking about this. You can move on.”
In an interview, @TamikaDMallory asked if Israel has the right to exist.
“The Palestinians are native to their lands”
And the Jews?
“.Well I’m not Jewish”
But you’re not Palestinian either
“I’m speaking about people who are brutally oppressed…” pic.twitter.com/GCwJBpmmKM— Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) January 18, 2019
StandWithUs tweeted that Mallory’s statements in the interview were “insane.”
INSANE interview in which Tamika Mallory, #WomensMarch cofounder and Farrakhan fan
❌ Refuses to acknowledge #Israel’s right to exist
❌ Says #Palestinians are “native” but she can’t say if #Jews are because she’s not Jewish. 🧐🤨H/t @HenMazzig pic.twitter.com/9QYiqC8FwL
— StandWithUs (@StandWithUs) January 18, 2019
Muslim reformer Shireen Qudosi pointed out that Mallory had referred to “Jewish faith or identity” as “an ideology.”
Also worth noting that @TamikaDMallory’s first response to @MargaretHoover’s question skirted away from recognizing Jewish faith or identity, and instead referring to it as an ideology. It’s not going to be enough for these folks to wipe Israel off the map. I promise you that. https://t.co/d21dsV2kXO
— Shireen Qudosi (@ShireenQudosi) January 18, 2019
Mallory’s remarks come on the heels of her refusing to condemn Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan’s anti-Semitism on ABC’s “The View.” In an interview with Elle magazine published on Wednesday, Mallory said that while she doesn’t agree with everything Farrakhan says, “It does not make sense for me to throw away an organization—like the Nation of Islam—that has been very effective at reaching the hearts and minds of young black men to turning them away from violence.”
The Women’s March is set to take place on Saturday.
