The executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations-Michigan said his 12-minute speech today at a Jerusalem Day rally in front of Dearborn City Hall was misrepresented by a local Jewish group.
In his speech, Dawud Walid said he doubted the upcoming peace talks between President Barack Obama and Arab and Israeli leaders would produce any change because the person representing Palestine was not elected by the Palestinian people. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, was elected to serve until January of 2009; however, he extended his term. Some Palestinians have disputed his presidency.
But shortly after the rally, the Jewish Community Relations Council, in a statement, said it was disappointed by Walid’s remarks.
He “rejected this week’s Washington peace talks, which were led by President Obama and attended by Arab and Israeli leaders... Walid called for Hamas to be invited to the talks,” the statement said.
“‘Should extremists like Hamas be permitted to shoot their way to the negotiating table?’” the statement cited Richard Nodel, the council’s president, as saying.
But Walid said he didn’t even mention Hamas.
“I didn’t even mention the word Hamas,” he said.
Jerusalem Day or Al-Quds Day in Arabic is an international day of solidarity with the Palestinian people held annually on the last Friday of Ramadan.
Less than 100 people were at the rally, Walid said, including members of Jews-Muslims for Peace.