Frontpage Interview’s guest today is Walid Shoebat, a former PLO terrorist who has become an ardent Zionist and evangelical Christian. He is the author of Why I Left Jihad. The Root of Terrorism and the Return of Radical Islam. He will be speaking at UC Davis on February 6, at 7 p.m. at Freeborn Hall.
FP: Walid Shoebat, welcome back to Frontpage Magazine.
Shoebat: Thank you
FP: So what are you planning to talk about at UC Davis on February 6?
Shoebat: A two fold speech, my story as a radical Muslim and how I got out of it. I’ll also focus on radical Islam, its rise, dangers, and how we need to combat it.
FP: What kind of reception are you expecting? Are there security concerns?
Shoebat: There are always security concerns. It is amazing how the terror supporters can speak freely, while anti-terror speakers must be concerned. Ever wonder why Muslims who speak against the West can give their names fully while converts from Islam must use different names? This alone speaks volumes as far as who is threatening who.
FP: Can you tell us a bit about the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and also who Mazin Qumsiyeh is? Did you know him when he was in the PFLP?
Shoebat: One of the strongest, active terror organizations in the world is The PFLP, which grew out of the Hara kat al-Qawmiyyin al-Arab, or Arab Nationalist Movement (ANM), and was founded in 1953 by Dr. George Habash, a Palestinian Christian.
Whereas Hamas completely dominates the slums of Gaza, Qalqilya, and Hebron; the PFLP has its roots among the urban middle class, mostly Christians. Like their founder George Habash, they fear Islamization of the Palestinians and the erasure of the rights of minorities within a Hamas theocracy.
The PFLP was responsible for several suicide bombings, yet in each case they used Muslims to carry out the missions. This by the way debunks the notion that suicide bombers act as a result of oppression and occupation, since supposedly both Muslims and Christians suffer the Israeli occupation.
Mazen Qumsiyeh, who was pro-PFLP and from my village, was with us alongside his relatives in many demonstrations against Israel. He and several family members were there when we all nearly lynched an Israeli soldier. In fact he knows the truth when it comes to certain facts regarding many events in our community, yet he simply loves to blame Israel for everything under the sun. I had a long conversation with a Christian classmate who knows that event well.
My friend Jamal Hanouneh, for example, his brother, Basem Hanouneh, suffered a horrible fate. His body was found dead near the military camp in Beit Sahur, mutilated and with his penis cut off. When the news circulated through town, everyone blamed the Israeli military for the crime. Twenty years later, his real killers were discovered. The sons of Bishara Qumsiyeh (Mazen's relatives) while drunk, confessed the whole gruesome details. Of course, no one acknowledged the lie perpetrated against the Israelis who had nothing to do with the crime. It got worse, the two brothers also confessed to another unsolved mystery – the murder of my first Bible teacher in third grade, an elderly single lady Mrs. Christa from Germany, who was raped and mutilated by the two brothers.
Again, Israel was accused of the killing and the whole community believed it. The irony was that the discoveries of the true criminals never caused anyone to question our honesty or integrity.
FP: How do you think Palestinian activism on American campuses is affecting American education?
Shoebat: When I was active, it was simply a front to recruit and collect funds from the Arab community to support a radical agenda. These hot-beds of radical movements from the PLO, PFLP, Muslim brotherhood and others simply intimidated others to accept the Palestinian dogma. It was worse than simply being a Palestinian cause, but evolved into the most radical movement ever -- the rise of fanatic Islam. The Muslim brotherhood later evolved to becoming the I.A.P (Islamic Association of Palestine).
The IAP was a front group for Hamas since the people back home needed much support from American Muslims. This movement first began by setting up social infrastructure as was done by Shiekh Ahmad Yassin, a leader of the Muslim Brotherhood in Gaza.
Many leaders which came out of these movements became terrorist supporters and were given freedom in this country to do their evil deeds. It was only after 9/11 that Americans woke up and arrested several from this movement. Many remain at large.
Yet CAIR was born from this movement, and set itself up to sue and intimidate anyone who stands in the way.
FP: You've obviously encountered many people who are trying to prevent you from speaking. Why do you think they fear your message and why are they not ashamed of their totalitarian methods?
Shoebat: They are not ashamed because they do not follow the basic concepts of a Judeo-Christian culture. Traditional Christian culture is not raised on a doctrine of suicide bombings and death as we see in the Middle East. The universities in the U.S made no efforts either to combat this thinking – the lie that the cause of terrorism is occupation, poverty and stress.
When I spoke at the University of South Florida, where professor Sami Al-Arian, (a suspect for terror involvement) taught, I received an objection when I presented my case as to what I thought were the true causes of terrorism. One unhappy professor raised his hand and disagreed and stated that poverty is the main reason which causes such frustration and leads men to blow themselves up. I felt that someone else better give input to the discussion, so I asked the audience if there was anyone from India. One student, with an obvious Indian accent, said, “I am from India.” I asked him if they had poverty in India. He remarked, “We have lots of poverty in India, lots of poverty.” I asked, “Do you have a lot of suicide bombings as a result of poverty?” His response was so timely, “No sir, we do not blow ourselves up as a result of poverty, but they sure come from Pakistan and blow us up.” The crowd broke into laughter, and nothing further needed to be said.
FP: Can you talk a bit about the death threats you have received from your family and how they have affected you?
Shoebat: Threats come from my own family, and also from many in the Muslim community. Not only for myself, but for my friends. Take Zac Anani for example, he was attacked, and his daughters as well. They tossed Molotov cocktails at his home and attempted to run over his children.
FP: What are your thoughts on honor killings and the mistreatment of women in the Arab world?
Shoebat: The first honor killing was when I went to school, near Ayda Camp in which the father decapitated his daughter. The Israelis of course arrested the man, then the entire community raised a fund to release him.
This is the difference between the two cultures. In the Islamic-Arab culture, the entire community supports it.
FP: Walid Shoebat, thank you for joining us. Good luck at UC Davis.
Shoebat: Thank you Jamie.
FP: Once again, for those readers who are interested, Walid Shoebat will be speaking at UC Davis on February 6 at 7 p.m. at Freeborn Hall. UC Davis students get free admission with student ID and law enforcement also get free VIP tickets with proper ID. General admission tickets for the public are $12 each and $25 each for VIP reserved seating down front. Box office number and hours of business are Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm or call 530-752-1915.
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To read the Dinesh D'Souza-Jamie Glazov debate, click here.