Recruiting CAIR to Counter Anti-Semitism Would Be Like Recruiting Marjorie Taylor-Greene to Counter Transphobia

Although I am glad the Biden Administration has deployed a national strategy to counter anti-Semitism, I have expressed some concerns with the details.

I now have further concerns in light of the fact the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has been recruited to help combat anti-Semitism. While Deborah Lipstadt, the White House's Envoy on Anti-Semitism, acknowledges CAIR's history of anti-Semitism she welcomes their involvement. It has scarcely been two years since Zahra Billoo, the Executive Director of CAIR's San Francisco affiliate, declared "Zionist organizations" as "enemies" of American Muslims. Billoo cited the Anti-Defamation League, Jewish Federations, Hillel and "Zionist synagogues" as "enemies."

In view of these facts, the Biden Administration involving CAIR in their strategy to counter anti-Semitism makes about as much sense as involving anti-LGBTQ organizations in a strategy to counter homophobia or, for that matter, involving Marjorie Taylor-Greene in an effort to counter transphobia. 

Engaging in such partnerships gives me pause as to how serious the Biden Administration really is about countering anti-Semitism. To be more precise, I question the Biden Administration's commitment to countering anti-Semitism from sources apart from white supremacists. 

While white supremacist anti-Semitism must be countered, so too must anti-Semitism from organizations like CAIR. Because whether practiced by white supremacists or by CAIR, anti-Semitism is the world's oldest conspiracy theory. And if the Biden Administration tolerates certain organizations spreading conspiracy theories then anti-Semitism will only fester and gain strength.